Spotlight: City of Napa Junior Unit Initiative Program
One of the primary obstacles that we hear about from local homeowners seeking to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU) is cost. Building an ADU and even a JADU can be cost prohibitive for some homeowners, and these costs have been exacerbated by a labor and materials shortage that’s even worse in Napa and Sonoma Counties due to the repeated wildfires that have devastated too much of our local housing stock.
There is good news on this front for homeowners in the City of Napa: The Junior Unit Initiative Program, which helps finance your JADU or interior conversion ADU!
In short, this program provides participating homeowners with technical assistance and below-market financing to create Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (Junior Units or JADUs) and Conversion Accessory Dwelling Units (Conversion ADUs). Junior Units are flexible, independent apartments created from existing owner-occupied, single family homes (this can include an attached garage). Conversion ADUs are ADUs created from accessory structures, including attached or detached garages. Approved homeowners must live in either the ADU or the primary unit and rent the other unit to a low-income tenant.
The City provides forgivable financing of up to $50,000 to create a Junior Unit or Conversion ADU. Up to $75,000 is provided for garage conversions. Additionally, Conversion ADUs are eligible for up to an additional $25,000 in financing in the form of a deferred interest-free loan. Participating homeowners will also receive assistance in developing scopes of work and finding qualified contractors. Homeowners opting to include ADA improvements in the rental unit are eligible for grants of up to $5,000. The City also provides design and engineering grants if these services are needed for the creation of the Junior Unit or Conversion ADU.
To learn more about the City of Napa Junior Unit Initiative Program, check out the website which has many more details including guidelines for the program and an application to enroll!