California is in the midst of a small house revolution. Over the past seven years, more than 100,000 plans have been submitted for permitting Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs), with numbers continuing to rise. This surge marks a significant shift from decades of restrictive building covenants that permitted only single-family homes on properties, leaving little room for additional housing options—either for family members or the broader community.
Historically, multigenerational living arrangements were commonplace in America until they fell out of fashion around the 1950s. The post-World War II era sparked a housing boom dedicated to nuclear families, leading to exclusionary single-family zoning practices that persist today. Yet as family dynamics evolved and housing affordability became increasingly challenging, many people took matters into their own hands—often resulting in unpermitted units built without formal approval.
One exciting update to the State’s ADU laws this year is Assembly Bill 2533 (Carrillo 2024). Existing law had already authorized local agencies to approve a permit for an ADU or JADU built before 2018 regardless of being in violation of local and state building standard except when findings showed correcting violations was necessary to protect the health and safety of the occupants of the building and the public.
AB 2533 offers a predictable, streamlined path for permitting an illegal unit and as of January 1st you should be able to go to your jurisdiction’s website and find a checklist not only describing conditions that would stipulate a space as substandard, so you know what to do to bring it up to health and safety code, but also a checklist that provides step by step instructions on the process for legalization.
Many homeowners remain unaware of existing codes or feel overwhelmed by what seems like an intimidating permitting maze filled with red tape and potential penalties.
The updates brought forth by AB 2533 directly address these concerns:
Streamlined Communication: Jurisdictions must inform residents about available opportunities under this law while also preparing resources such as checklists tailored for prospective applicants.
Confidential Inspections: Homeowners can seek confidential evaluations from licensed contractors before engaging with local agencies—a reassuring option designed to alleviate fears surrounding inspections.
Local Agency Support: Local authorities will conduct inspections focused solely on health and safety compliance without imposing penalties simply due to prior nonconformance.
Financial Relief: Importantly—the law prohibits charges such as impact fees, connection fees or capacity charges unless specific conditions warrant them—ensuring cost-burdened homeowners won’t face added financial strain during legalization efforts.
To quote Assemblymember Juan Carrillo himself: “AB 2533 is designed to support and empower cost-burdened homeowners by providing a pathway to legalize their unpermitted ADUs.” This initiative represents not just regulatory change but also an acknowledgment of evolving societal needs regarding affordable housing solutions.
Moving Forward Together
Despite these advancements under AB 2533, apprehension remains among residents who still question whether it's safe—or wise—to reveal their unpermitted units openly within bureaucratic systems perceived as intimidating at best!
Here at Hello ADU Team—we’re committed helping every individual navigate whatever stage they're currently facing toward creating additional affordable living spaces efficiently while avoiding unnecessary hurdles along way!
We encourage you all stay informed about new developments impacting your homeownership journey! As always—we wish you nothing but success in all your building endeavors—and remember we’re here every step along way should you need our assistance!
Thank you! The Hello ADU Team