If you have aging parents or adult children who are having difficulty affording a home on their own, you might consider building an ADU on your property. ADUs, or accessory dwelling units, are secondary homes built on a property—for example, in-law suites and “granny pods,” which have become popular in recent years. They could also be a guest house or a detached garage with an apartment above.
If you choose to build an ADU on your property, your ADU floor plans in Los Angeles County, CA will need to be approved by local regulatory agencies—unfortunately, you can’t just start building, even though you own the land. Building permits and other licenses must be acquired before you begin.
Could an ADU be right for you? Here’s an overview of what they are, how they work and what you should consider before building one.
What is an ADU?
An ADU is a separate living space on your property, which has its own bedroom or other living space, kitchen and a separate entrance. ADUs typically make use of the preexisting water and utility hookups on the lot, whether they’re attached to your primary residence or are located elsewhere on the property.
ADUs are especially useful for multigenerational living, but they’re also great for houseguests, renters or if you want to offer your home on Airbnb or “couch surfing” sites. The detached entrance gives the additional parties a measure of privacy while still being close to the main house.
What to consider when building an ADU
Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking about constructing an ADU on your property.
What will you use it for?
The most important factor to consider is the intended purpose of the ADU. If it’s strictly for rental purposes, you might find that tax implications, building costs and other associated fees make it less than profitable. Be sure to investigate whether building and renting an ADU on your lot is permitted within your city and county laws. If the ADU is intended to allow loved ones to live on your property, consider how to offset the building and permitting costs.
Which zoning ordinances apply?
Once you’ve decided you want an ADU and how you’ll use it, you need to check your local zoning ordinances to ensure you’re allowed to build an additional structure on your lot, and whether you can rent it out. Unlawful building can prove to be very expensive in the long run.
Will there be tax implications?
Talk to a financial advisor to determine your tax liability, and whether that will wipe out any potential profit you might receive from renting the building out.
Who will design and construct the building?
Finally, choosing a designer and building contractor is important—you need a company that will design your ADU to local building codes and ensure that all permits are obtained. Complete Package Drafting can help—we specialize in creating one set of drawings to submit to the city for your permits, and won’t stop until your project is approved.
If you’re considering an ADU on your property, reach out to Complete Package Drafting today to begin working on your ADU house plans in Los Angeles County, CA.