In the past 2 years, Dublin has officially joined 14 other east bay cities in the ADU accelerator program, aimed to increase production of accessory dwelling units in an attempt to address the regional housing issues. According to the City of Dublin Government website, Dublin has been allocated $136,352 in funding the ADU program. The new program, piloted by State Senator Steve Glazer, will be composed of 15 cities in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The program is expected to run from October 2024-September 2026. The goal is to facilitate the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) through financial incentives and pre-approved, permit-ready plans. Basically, the city is attempting to make smaller and more affordable housing units to increase housing and support home-owners.
The ADU program in California provides homeowners with, grants (up to $40,000 low-interest loans, or pre-approved designs to build accessory dwelling units). The program also streamlines permits, allows for rental income, and targets homeowners located in residential areas. In Dublin, this includes a series of pre-approved plans, in order to gain pre-engineered ADU designs, which significantly speeds up the permitting process. There are generally 4 types of ADU buildings, Attached: Connected to the main house, Detached: A separate building on the same lot, Converted: Existing space (garage, basement) turned into living space, or JADU: Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit, which is 500 sq ft or less and contained within the main house.
The eligibility criteria are as follows: ADUs must be 1,000 square feet or less, one per single-family residential lot/APN, and must be permitted and receive a certificate of occupancy within 18 months. Through 2026, the City has waived building permit fees for ADUs under 750 square feet and for 55-year deed-restricted low-income units 750 square feet or larger. The program rewards homeowners who receive building permits and certificates of occupancy within 18 months, focusing on adding affordable housing to the city.
These kinds of initiatives from the city are exactly what Dublin needs in order to increase affordable housing. With the generally unaffordable housing spiraling all over California, encouraging those with houses to build additional units to house others is a great way to increase housing affordability for those who live on a renters budget. The program helps home-owners and renters alike, and promotes effective plans to help our cities’ housing crisis. For more information, refer to dublin.ca.gov and look up the ADU Accelerator Program. Applications are accepted via online application only through the city’s Citizen Self-Service Portal (CSS).