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An accessory dwelling unit is a simple and old idea: having a second small dwelling right on the same grounds, or attached to or inside, your regular single-family house, such as:

an apartment over the garage
a tiny house (on a foundation) in the backyard
a basement apartment

Definition source: https://accessorydwellings.org/what-adus-are-and-why-people-build-them/

Alternative names

Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is the official name adopted by the State of California as of September 2017. Other jurisdictions may differ in terminology. Over time ADUs have assumed many names depending on cultural, regional, or communal consensus. Here are just a few terms synonymous with ADU used to describe "second units" on single-family properties:

accessory apartment
accessory dwelling
accessory dwelling unit (the most commonly used term among planners, but weirdly, not used currently on Wikipedia)
accessory suite (used here to specify an attached ADU)
accessory unit
ADU
ancillary unit
backyard cottage
basement apartment
carriage house
dawdy' house (among Amish)
garden cottage (used to specify a detached ADU)
garden suite (used mostly in Canada)
Grand Retreat (a commercial name)
granny cottage
granny flat
granny pod [example]
granny unit
home within a home (used by Lennar marketing)
in-law
in-law suite
in-law unit
“JADU” or “junior accessory dwelling unit” — a small, internal ADU
laneway house
mother-in-law flat
“mother-daughter” or “mother/daughter” house
multigenerational homes
Next Gen (a commercial name)
Ohana unit (in Hawaii)
SDU
secondary suite (more common name in Canada)
second unit
secondary unit
secondary dwelling unit
sidekick
tiny house [sometimes these are ADUs, sometimes not]
two-family house

List Source: https://accessorydwellings.org/2012/06/04/beware-of-the-many-synonyms-for-adus/

Issues

Arguments for ADUs

ADUs are most widely used to allow extended family to live together in one location, creating a multi-generational household. More recently, ADUs are being viewed as investment opportunities for homeowners. For first time home buyers, an ADUs help accelerates mortgage paydown, or homeowners from older generations may establish an ADU from underutilized space to generate additional retirement income.

ADUs are legally permissible in many cities and states, but regulations about size, placement, design, and use vary widely. For more information about your local land use laws visit your municipal planning department website or call to speak with a planner as rules change frequently. Recently, many public officials are recognizing the potential for ADUs to satisfy housing needs in their local communities.

Should an ADU have to be tied to a main house?

comment in presentation by @JakeWegmann at #BuildSmall2017.

What if homeowners could subdivide their lots by-right?

comment in presentation by @JakeWegmann at #BuildSmall2017.

Movable ADUs

Types

Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU)

Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU)

In multi-unit building

Affordable Accessory Dwelling Unit (AADU)

State / local regulations & guides

General

https://accessorydwellings.org/

California

see also "Bulletin #250: Accessory Buildings and Structures. (non-dwelling): 6 Feb, 2017. http://www.sanjoseca.gov/documentcenter/view/1729

Scheinin, Richard. “Bank funds ‘granny’ units project in affordable housing experiment for San Jose, L.A.” Mercury News, October 9, 2017. http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/09/an-affordable-housing-experiment-for-san-jose-and-los-angeles-bank-funds-pilot-project-to-help-build-granny-units/.

Giwargis, Ramona. “San Jose eases rules to build granny units to increase housing stock.” Mercury News, November 22, 2016. http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/22/san-jose-eases-rules-to-build-granny-units-a-new-source-of-affordable-housing/.

Colorado

Arvada

http://static.arvada.org/docs/ADU_Type_A_and_B-1-201408190707.pdf

Boulder

https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/103_adu_attachment-1-201305080946.pdf
City of Boulder "Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)" page: https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing/adu.

Centennial

https://issuu.com/nickworkman/docs/centennial_ldc_adopted_4-19-2010_flipbook_version/154

Colorado Springs

https://www.springsgov.com/units/planning/applications/2011/DAB2011/DAB_305.PDF

Denver

https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/DZC/Complete_Denver_Zoning_Code.pdf

Durango

http://www.durangogov.org/DocumentCenter/View/3119

Golden

http://www.cityofgolden.net/media/pdf_4.pdf

Thornton

https://library.municode.com/co/thornton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH18DECO_ARTVDEST_DIV6OREPA

Michigan

Grand Rapids

http://urbangr.org/GRADURegs2018r2

Oregon

Washington

References

Accessorydwellings.org - Portland-based portal for ADU info, probably the top information reference existing. Run by Kol Peters and Eli Spevak, alternative housing / ADU leaders.
Boulder, Colorado [City of]. "Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing/adu.
Dineen, J. K. "New trend: Random spaces in existing buildings becoming rental housing." San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Dec 2017. http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/New-trend-Random-spaces-in-existing-buildings-12420435.php.
Get help building an ADU: https://oviddesigndevelop.com.
Giwargis, Ramona. “San Jose eases rules to build granny units to increase housing stock.” Mercury News, November 22, 2016. http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/22/san-jose-eases-rules-to-build-granny-units-a-new-source-of-affordable-housing/.
Huang, Josie. “[ttp://www.scpr.org/news/2017/12/25/79179/la-embracing-granny-flats-more-than-anywhere-else/ Popular granny flats create a niche industry in LA.]” KPCC, 25 December, 2017. http://www.scpr.org/news/2017/12/25/79179/la-embracing-granny-flats-more-than-anywhere-else/.
McCormick, Kathleen. "ADUs for all the right reasons." [Boulder] Daily Camera, 5 Jan 2018. http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_31572459/kathleen-mccormick-adus-all-right-reasons.
Monahan, Rachel. “Are Tiny Houses a Solution to the Rental Crisis—Or Just a Good-Looking Symptom of It?” Willamette Week [Portland, OR], 25 October 2017. http://www.wweek.com/news/city/2017/10/25/are-tiny-houses-a-solution-to-the-rental-crisis-or-just-a-good-looking-symptom-of-it/.
Regan, Matt. "Techonomics: New California Laws with Matt Regan of the Bay Area Council." (interview on KGO 810, 30 Sept 2016).
http://www.kgoradio.com/2016/09/30/techonomics-new-california-laws-with-matt-regan-of-the-bay-area-council/.
Scheinin, Richard. “Bank funds ‘granny’ units project in affordable housing experiment for San Jose, L.A.” Mercury News, October 9, 2017. http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/09/an-affordable-housing-experiment-for-san-jose-and-los-angeles-bank-funds-pilot-project-to-help-build-granny-units/.
Toor, Will. "It's time for council to act on granny flats and backyard cottages." [Boulder] Daily Camera, 9 Dec 2017. http://www.dailycamera.com/columnists/ci_31512744/will-toor-its-time-council-act-granny-flats.
Wegmann, Jake. "Insights to Guide the Future of ADU Development." [keynote at 2017 Build Small Live Large conference]. http://buildsmall-livelarge.com/session/keynote-ii-jake-wegmann/.

Research query for Twitter references (from:YIMBYwiki OR from:houslets OR from:tmccormick) AND (#accessorydwelling OR #accessorydwellings OR ADU OR ADUs):

Twitter: #accessorydwellings

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:What-is-an-ADU.png|600px|thumb|right|Types of ADU]]
+[[File:What-is-an-ADU.png|thumb|right|600px|Types of ADU]]
 An accessory dwelling unit is a simple and old idea: having a second small dwelling right on the same grounds, or attached to or inside, your regular single-family house, such as:
@@ Line 13: / Line 12: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Alternative names ==
+= Alternative names =
 Accessory dwelling unit&nbsp;(ADU)&nbsp;is the official name adopted by the State of California as of&nbsp;September 2017. &nbsp;Other jurisdictions may differ in terminology.&nbsp;Over time ADUs have assumed&nbsp;many names depending on cultural, regional, or communal consensus. Here are just a few terms synonymous with ADU used to describe "second units" on single-family properties:
@@ Line 51: / Line 50: @@
 *secondary unit
 *secondary dwelling unit
+*sidekick
-*idekick
-*tiny house [sometimes these are ADUs, sometimes not — see this]
+*tiny house [sometimes these are ADUs, sometimes not]
 *two-family house
@@ Line 59: / Line 58: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Issues&nbsp; ==
+= Issues&nbsp; =
-=== Arguments for ADUs ===
+== Arguments for ADUs ==
 ADUs are most widely used to allow extended family to live together in one location, creating a multi-generational household. &nbsp;More recently, ADUs are being viewed as investment opportunities for homeowners. For first time home buyers, an ADUs help accelerates mortgage paydown, or homeowners from older generations may establish an ADU from underutilized space to generate additional retirement income.
-ADUs are legally permissible in many cities and states, but regulations about size, placement, design, and use vary widely. &nbsp;For more information about your local land use laws visit your municipal planning department website or call to speak with a planner as rules change frequently. &nbsp;Recently, many public officials are recognizing the potential for ADUs to satisfy housing needs in their local communities.
+ADUs are legally permissible in many cities and states, but regulations about size, placement, design, and use vary widely. &nbsp;For more information about your local land use laws visit your municipal planning department website or call to speak with a planner as rules change frequently. &nbsp;Recently, many public officials are recognizing the potential for ADUs to satisfy housing needs in their local communities.<br/> &nbsp;
+=== Should an ADU have to be tied to a main house? ===
-For example, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill No. 1069 in September 2017 requiring local city governments to adopt ordinances allowing ADUs, effectively legalizing the building of ADUs at the state level. &nbsp;
-There are many reasons and motivations for a homeowner to build an ADU, but one thing they have in common is the provision of housing. &nbsp;The commodification of housing is very complex and causes many unintended consequences, chief among them is affordability. ADUs present a good opportunity to introduce a social factor alongside the economic benefits of building housing. Plus, the economic benefits for building ADUs goes toward local small property owners.&nbsp;
-&nbsp;
-=== Can an ADU be mobile, e.g. a mobile tiny house?&nbsp; ===
-&nbsp;
-=== Should an ADU have to be tied to a main house?<br/> &nbsp; ===
 comment in presentation by&nbsp;[https://twitter.com/JakeWegmann <s>@</s>'''JakeWegmann'''] at [https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuildSmall2017?src=hash <s>#</s>'''BuildSmall2017'''].<br/> &nbsp;
@@ Line 84: / Line 73: @@
 comment in presentation by&nbsp;[https://twitter.com/JakeWegmann <s>@</s>'''JakeWegmann'''] at [https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuildSmall2017?src=hash <s>#</s>'''BuildSmall2017'''].<br/> &nbsp;
+= Movable ADUs =
+= &nbsp; =
+&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
-== Types ==
+= Types =
 === Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU)&nbsp; ===
@@ Line 101: / Line 96: @@
 &nbsp;
+= State / local regulations & guides =
-&nbsp;
+== General&nbsp; ==
+[https://accessorydwellings.org/ https://accessorydwellings.org/]
-== Municipal regulations & guides ==
+== <br/> California ==
-General&nbsp;<br/> [https://accessorydwellings.org/ https://accessorydwellings.org/]
-=== &nbsp; ===
-=== Michigan ===
-==== Grand Rapids ====
-[http://urbangr.org/GRADURegs2018r2 http://urbangr.org/GRADURegs2018r2]
 &nbsp;
-=== California ===
+=== Berkeley: ===
-&nbsp;
-==== Berkeley: ====
 [http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Berkeley/html/Berkeley23D/Berkeley23D10/Berkeley23D10.html http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Berkeley/html/Berkeley23D/Berkeley23D10/Berkeley23D10.html]
@@ Line 128: / Line 112: @@
 &nbsp;
-==== Oakland ====
+=== Oakland ===
 '''&nbsp;'''[http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/ceda/documents/report/oak050966.pdf http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/ceda/documents/report/oak050966.pdf]
@@ Line 134: / Line 118: @@
 &nbsp;
-==== San Francisco ====
+=== San Francisco ===
 [http://sf-planning.org/accessory-dwelling-units http://sf-planning.org/accessory-dwelling-units]<br/> &nbsp;
-==== San Jose ====
+=== San Jose ===
 Code:<br/> November 10, 2016 Amendments to Title 20 (Zoning Code):&nbsp;[http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2658&meta_id=600778 http://sanjose.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=&event_id=2658&meta_id=600778].&nbsp; (24MB PDF).&nbsp;
@@ Line 150: / Line 134: @@
 Giwargis, Ramona. “[http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/22/san-jose-eases-rules-to-build-granny-units-a-new-source-of-affordable-housing/ San Jose eases rules to build granny units to increase housing stock.]” Mercury News, November 22, 2016. [http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/22/san-jose-eases-rules-to-build-granny-units-a-new-source-of-affordable-housing/ http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/22/san-jose-eases-rules-to-build-granny-units-a-new-source-of-affordable-housing/].<br/> &nbsp;
-=== Colorado ===
+== Colorado ==
+=== Arvada ===
-Arvada<br/> [http://static.arvada.org/docs/ADU_Type_A_and_B-1-201408190707.pdf http://static.arvada.org/docs/ADU_Type_A_and_B-1-201408190707.pdf]
+[http://static.arvada.org/docs/ADU_Type_A_and_B-1-201408190707.pdf http://static.arvada.org/docs/ADU_Type_A_and_B-1-201408190707.pdf]
-Boulder<br/> [https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/103_adu_attachment-1-201305080946.pdf https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/103_adu_attachment-1-201305080946.pdf]<br/> City of Boulder "Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)" page:&nbsp;&nbsp;[https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing/adu https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing/adu].<br/> &nbsp;
+=== Boulder ===
-Centennial<br/> [https://issuu.com/nickworkman/docs/centennial_ldc_adopted_4-19-2010_flipbook_version/154 https://issuu.com/nickworkman/docs/centennial_ldc_adopted_4-19-2010_flipbook_version/154]
+[https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/103_adu_attachment-1-201305080946.pdf https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/103_adu_attachment-1-201305080946.pdf]<br/> City of Boulder "Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)" page:&nbsp;&nbsp;[https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing/adu https://bouldercolorado.gov/housing/adu].<br/> &nbsp;
-Colorado Springs<br/> [https://www.springsgov.com/units/planning/applications/2011/DAB2011/DAB_305.PDF https://www.springsgov.com/units/planning/applications/2011/DAB2011/DAB_305.PDF]
+=== Centennial ===
-Denver<br/> [https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/DZC/Complete_Denver_Zoning_Code.pdf https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/DZC/Complete_Denver_Zoning_Code.pdf]
+[https://issuu.com/nickworkman/docs/centennial_ldc_adopted_4-19-2010_flipbook_version/154 https://issuu.com/nickworkman/docs/centennial_ldc_adopted_4-19-2010_flipbook_version/154]
-Durango<br/> [http://www.durangogov.org/DocumentCenter/View/3119 http://www.durangogov.org/DocumentCenter/View/3119]
+=== Colorado Springs ===
-Golden<br/> [http://www.cityofgolden.net/media/pdf_4.pdf http://www.cityofgolden.net/media/pdf_4.pdf]
+[https://www.springsgov.com/units/planning/applications/2011/DAB2011/DAB_305.PDF https://www.springsgov.com/units/planning/applications/2011/DAB2011/DAB_305.PDF]
-Thornton<br/> [https://library.municode.com/co/thornton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH18DECO_ARTVDEST_DIV6OREPA https://library.municode.com/co/thornton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH18DECO_ARTVDEST_DIV6OREPA]<br/> &nbsp;
+=== Denver ===
+[https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/DZC/Complete_Denver_Zoning_Code.pdf https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/DZC/Complete_Denver_Zoning_Code.pdf]
+=== Durango ===
+[http://www.durangogov.org/DocumentCenter/View/3119 http://www.durangogov.org/DocumentCenter/View/3119]
+=== Golden ===
+[http://www.cityofgolden.net/media/pdf_4.pdf http://www.cityofgolden.net/media/pdf_4.pdf]
+=== Thornton ===
+[https://library.municode.com/co/thornton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH18DECO_ARTVDEST_DIV6OREPA https://library.municode.com/co/thornton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH18DECO_ARTVDEST_DIV6OREPA]<br/> &nbsp;
+== Michigan ==
+=== Grand Rapids ===
+[http://urbangr.org/GRADURegs2018r2 http://urbangr.org/GRADURegs2018r2]
 &nbsp;
-== References ==
+== Oregon ==
+&nbsp;
+== Washington ==
+&nbsp;
+----
+= References =
 *Accessorydwellings.org - Portland-based portal for ADU info, probably the top information reference existing. &nbsp;Run by Kol Peters and Eli Spevak, alternative housing / ADU&nbsp;leaders.&nbsp;<br/> &nbsp;