The County of Santa Cruz is launching a new incentives program focused on helping homeowners in the unincorporated areas navigate the process of adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit or a Junior ADU to their homes.
An ADU is limited to 640 square feet in the urban area and 1,200 square feet in the rural area.
With nonprofit program administrator HelloADU, the program offers support to homeowners who are ready to take the next steps in building an ADU or a JADU, but could benefit from free guidance and expertise.
Support includes project feasibility, project management, cost estimating and contractor selection guidance through nonprofit Hello Housing to help participants navigate the process of designing, constructing, and renting an ADU or a JADU.
Santa Cruz County’s current Housing Element relies on accessory dwellings as a key strategy to boost the housing stock.
The 2015 version, developed under Kathy Malloy Previsich as planning director, reported capacity for 7,838 accessory dwelling units. In 2014, the county issued 37 such permits.
The permit fees are listed in the appendix and not readily accessible, but examples in 2015 of fees paid to create a second unit ranged from $4,545 for
628 square feet to $14,422 for 416 square feet in the urban area.
In the rural area, fees ranged from $4,898 for 766 square feet to $12,344 for 1,200 square feet.
In Monterey County, fees can be waived based on the percentage of affordable housing provided.
While the idea of developing a second unit is compelling to many homeowners and can add income and increase property values, the process can be daunting.
This is especially true for homeowners facing life transitions, including new empty nesters, growing households, seniors transitioning to fixed incomes and households seeking to create affordable housing for friends and family.
By offering free feasibility and project management services to qualified homeowners, the County and Hello Housing can partner with local homeowners to create new housing and address the housing crisis while helping local homeowners increase the value of their properties.
Program applications are in English and Spanish at https://www.helloadu.org/new-santa-cruz-county-how-to-apply for qualified homeowners in unincorporated areas of the county.
Hello Housing has 18 years of experience and has worked in Fair Oaks, Pacifica and Redwood City.
To stay informed, subscribe to a newsletter at https://www.helloadu.org/subscribe.
The application period closes July 31.
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Local designers, architects, builders, or contractors who wish to join Hello Housing’s ADU Professionals registry: www.helloadu.org/join-ourprofessional-network
To read the 2015 Housing Element, see https://tinyurl.com/housing-element-2015