Thousand Oaks Reevaluates Regulations on Accessory Dwelling Units

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are properties created within the same lot of a homeowner, with resources subsidized through a loan granted by a city administration and complying with specific requirements or housing codes of each location. In the real estate market, they are known as ADU properties.

The state of California has implemented various strategies to counteract the housing crisis. One of these is to allow its counties and cities to create laws that encourage and permit homeowners, who have the capacity within their property and meet the requirements, to build another unit within it; to achieve this, state or local grants will be provided to facilitate construction.

One of those cities that allow this type of ADU for homeowners is the city of Thousand Oaks. To date, the city has issued approximately 30 permits for this type of construction.

Recently, the California Department of Housing and Community Development has modified the ADU housing law, which aims to align local development standards with state law requirements. Primarily, this new modification to the law seeks to regulate the size and height aspects that these new ADU properties must have and to expedite the construction approval process that homeowners face when seeking to benefit from this measure.

By adjusting the state law’s parameters for an accessory property to further increase the chances of a resident having affordable housing, homeowners now have more opportunities to utilize their entire lot. Previously, the law more severely limited the front distance of the dwelling; now it has been regulated to such an extent that it is already possible to build a new dwelling just a few meters from the sidewalk, as long as the new construction meets the minimum size required by law.

Due to these modifications to state law, the Planning Commission of the city of Thousand Oaks has suggested implementing these new changes to local law. These changes could streamline local procedures, and more people might be encouraged to participate in this strategy, potentially addressing the housing crisis much more effectively.

However, it is a topic that generates much controversy, as while it is true that the state’s simplified process is more agile and less demanding, local regulations are more permissive in terms of height and size. It is also important to remember that the construction of this type of housing must comply not only with the specific demands of the Thousand Oaks real estate market but also with the city’s infrastructure.

To clarify the issue and determine whether it is appropriate to carry out the modifications to the ADU housing law, the City Council will hold a meeting and determine, taking into account the aforementioned factors, whether the changes suggested by the Planning Commission are appropriate.

Available Foreclosures:

Thousand Oaks: 12 homes available.

By Elías DaSilva | 11 de Noviembre de 2024