Redwood City ADU: A complete guide

For those who don’t know, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is basically a small house that attached to your main home or completely detached from the main building. It can be used as an extra guest bedroom or office, or can be used as a secondary suite. In short, they are another way to own and operate a second unit in your single-family home. And more and more cities across the country are allowing their adoption as well. We’ll explain what you should know if you’re interested in adding Redwood City ADU.

What Are the Benefits of ADUs?

• You Can Make More Money From Your Home. Much like renting out a room or the garage, you make income off your ADU. You can use it as extra space or rent it out while staying in your main home. If you’re in an expensive city, you can even rent out your ADU as a primary source of income.
• Get Extra Income for Your Mortgage. If you have a mortgage and someone needs a place to stay, an ADU can help you make money at the same time. With a month-to-month lease, you can make money from the first month someone stays in your space. It’s like an Airbnb for your home.
• More Flexible Living Arrangements – With an ADU, you get to choose how and where you live. With an ADU, you can choose how you want to live.

Things to Consider Before Adopting An ADU

• Your Home’s Square Footage – Certain cities allow ADUs, but only if your home’s square footage meets certain minimum requirements. This can be a great benefit—and a significant cost.
• Your Property’s Zoning – ADUs are allowed in all zoning districts, but a lot of places have stricter zoning rules for ADUs. You want to make sure your property is zoned for ADUs before you adopt one.

How to Get an ADU Built in Your City

• Find zoning rules on your city’s website. We recommend starting with your city’s website to find zoning rules and learn more about ADUs. Most cities have helpful websites that break down all the rules.
• Start the process with a zoning amendment. Once you know you want to add an ADU, you need to get expert advice.
• Get an ADU consultant and work with them to add an ADU on your property.
• After you get the zoning amendment approved, you need to get a building permit. This is a municipal document that allows you to build the ADU on your property.
• Next, you’ll need to get a construction contract. This is an agreement between the contractor and the owner that outlines the work that will be done on the property.
• Lastly, you’ll need to get an occupancy permit. This is a city document that shows the city you’re allowed to use the space.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to expand the living space in your home, an ADU might be a great option for you. These can be tricky to get built and can be expensive, but they can be a great way to expand your property’s living space. Before you go this route, make sure you’re aware of all the risks and the benefits of ADUs.