The Down-Low on a Special Kind of ADU: Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs)
Originally appearing on MaxableSpace.com, this post takes readers through the ins-and-outs of JADUs, or Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.
Welcome to the Napa Sonoma ADU Center! Learn more about us →
The mission of the Napa Sonoma ADU Center is to help homeowners build ADUs.
We began our work to launch the ADU Center by conducting a series of surveys, data gathering, and focus groups with city and county staff, builders and architects, as well as homeowners who have built ADUs or are interested in building one in the future.
Sign up for an ADU Feasibility Consult!
Figuring out where to even begin with a major construction project like an accessory dwelling unit can be a little overwhelming — and that’s why we launched our new ADU Feasibility Consults program.
Let’s build a bright future for our community
Getting started on your Accessory Dwelling Unit can be a daunting undertaking, and studies show that the average homeowner can spend a couple of years just thinking about their ADU before even beginning the planning process. That’s why when it comes to ADUs, I like to say “There’s no time like the present!”
But really, have you checked out the ADU Workbook?
The ADU Workbook is tailored specifically for homeowners in Napa and Sonoma Counties. The ADU Workbook contains creative and practical activity pages to walk you through an engaging, step-by-step process along your entire ADU journey.
Announcing: The Napa Sonoma ADU Workbook!
From providing housing for relatives to helping pay the mortgage, many Napa and Sonoma County homeowners are interested in adding ADUs to their homes. The workbook was created as a resource to help residents of Napa and Sonoma Counties build an ADU!
Five Stages of the ADU Journey
When homeowners first embark on their accessory dwelling unit journey they often ask us for an overview of the process and rightly explain, “I simply don’t know what I don’t know!”
Top 6 ADU Tips from a Local Expert
Scott Johnson, ADU Expert @ Napa Sonoma ADU Center & Founder, Pocket Housing LLC highlights key tips that homeowners in Napa and Sonoma Counties should keep in mind when they’re ready to kickstart their accessory dwelling unit project.
ADUs 101 Webinar for Napa & Sonoma County Homeowners
With nearly 800 homes destroyed or damaged, and more than 1,000 commercial and other structures burned (at time of publication) across Napa and Sonoma counties due to the Glass Fire, compounding the hundreds of homes lost in the LNU Complex fire just recently extinguished, the already existing need for housing in our communities has only deepened.
Seven Reasons to Start your ADU Project Now, Not Later
Making the decision to take action steps on building an accessory dwelling unit is a big decision — one of the kinds of decisions that it’s easy for anyone to sit on for months — even years — before turning the dream into a reality.
Check out your local ADU rules!
Are you trying to parse out what your local ADU rules are? It can be confusing that every different city and unincorporated county has slightly different rules that govern how you build your accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit. But we are here to help!
How to Build an ADU in Sebastopol Webinar
Join us here to catch up on a recording of our webinar, How to Build an ADU in the City of Sebastopol!
Part I: How to Build an ADU in Healdsburg Webinar
Join us here to catch up on a recording of our webinar, Part I: How to Build an ADU in the City of Healdsburg!
Purchasing new property: Maximizing ADU build potential
With the popularity of accessory dwelling units on the rise, a lot of folks are thinking about the potential to build an ADU when looking at new property for purchase. Here, we give you some of our top tips for what to look for when purchasing a new property, with an eye towards maximizing the ADU potential.
Part II: How to Build an ADU in Healdsburg Webinar
This Part II webinar was in collaboration with local nonprofit Healdsburg 2040 and featured local homeowners and housing professionals who have successfully built ADUs in Healdsburg. This content is relevant to homeowners outside of Healdsburg as well!
What is Title 24 Energy Efficiency?
If you’re here, you are most likely weighing your options for adding an accessory dwelling unit to your property. That prospect comes with several code requirements that are mandatory for an ADU permit submittal such as structural engineering calculations, electrical diagrams, and site grading/paving plans.
8 Key Sample ADU Building Inspections
Here is a list of 8 sample key inspections that will likely be required for your traditionally constructed ADU project, just like in a regular home build project.
ADU Professionals to Hire for Your Team
Throughout your ADU journey, you will find yourself in need of professional services to help you complete your ADU project. This post offers a brief description of the most common professions involved with building an ADU, listed in rough order of their involvement in a project.
Seminario web: Cómo construir y pagar por una unidad de vivienda accesoria
Únase a nosotros aquí para ver una grabación de nuestro seminario web realizado en asociación con Redwood Credit Union, ¡Una nueva forma de financiar la construcción de la ADU de sus sueños!
Webinar: Real-world ADU stories from your neighbors!
Join us here to catch a recording of our webinar, Real-world ADU stories from your neighbors! We were joined by four panelists for the webinar:
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Scott Johnson, ADU Expert for Napa Sonoma ADU Center and Founder, Pocket Housing, LLC
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Kyle, a new ADU homeowner from City of Napa
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Ash & Debbie, two new ADU homeowners from unincorporated Sonoma County
Webinar: Ask Us Anything!
We covered all kinds of topics, including:
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How are ADU projects penciling out in the current economy?
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What are ADU project cost drivers?
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Septic systems, wells, city sewer & ADUs
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Differences between traditional construction and prefab
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What to ask prefab companies when vetting them
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And more!
Webinar: Ask Us Anything! – Part 2 – Nov 2, 2023
We covered all kinds of topics, including:
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How are ADU projects penciling out in the current economy?
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What are ADU project cost drivers?
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Septic systems, wells, city sewer & ADUs
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Differences between traditional construction and prefab
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What to ask prefab companies when vetting them
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And more!
Webinar: Paying for Your ADU – Learn from the Experts
We covered their financial expertise on how to reasonably pay for your ADU, including answers questions such as:
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What’s the Return on Investment (ROI) for an ADU with current interest rates what they are (in December 2022)?
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What are the financial pros and cons of building an ADU right now?
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What loans and grants can you get to pay for an ADU?
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What’s the status of the CalHFA ADU predevelopment grant from the State of California?
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Is it safe to take out a second mortgage on your house to pay for an ADU?
Appeal of San Francisco North Bay ‘granny flats’ grows, but challenges to build them remain
Granny flats have evolved from makeshift additions for an older relative to live out her days to stylish dwellings that could win architectural and design awards.
No longer are these units inhabited just by a certain age group either. That’s because in addition to people constructing accessory dwelling units for family, they are being built as a revenue source for their owners.
Webinar: Explaining Napa County’s Affordable ADU Loan Program
In this webinar, we covered all the details of the new program, including offering several examples of hypothetical homeowners that walk you through just what the return on investment for your ADU could look like with the help of a forgivable loan.
