The Long Beach City Council is hoping to cut the fat out of the process of building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by providing pre-approved designs to residents.
The council directed staff to study the creation of a pre-approved accessory dwelling unit program—whereby the City would provide pre-approved construction designs to residents to bypass the lengthy and costly permitting process.
Councilmember Al Austin, author of the item, expressed hope that the move will spur the creation of more ADUs, a crucial component of the City’s plan to meet its low-income housing requirements.
During this past Regional Housing Needs Assessment, Long Beach was tasked with creating 26,502 additional units in the City by 2029, 11,188 of which must be low- and very-low-income housing units.
“This is just another tool in the toolbox, as it aims to assist the City as it looks to increase the number of quality sustainable and affordable housing units in our communities,” Austin said.
Similar programs exist in cities like Chico, where the city contracted the design of 13 units in three different sizes that residents can use free of charge. San Jose allows businesses to submit ADU plans for resident use. Los Angeles has plans designed by private licensed architects and engineers that residents can purchase directly from the plan owner.
All of these models reduce the cost of an ADU, which is “significant,” according to Austin.
“Let’s not make any mistake about it, building an ADU is very expensive, with this item or without,” Councilmember Suzie Price said. “We should try to remove [some of] those barriers.”
Councilmember Stacy Mungo-Flanigan cited a document stating that ADUs cost $90,000 to $180,000, but mentioned she’d seen ADUs in her district cost upwards of $250,000.
She said that additional costs, like sewer fees and LBUSD fees, weren’t apparent to some of her residents. She requested the City work on a document outlining total ADU costs, including fees, in the upcoming study.
The City has already made some headway in the study, as they picked up the idea before the COVID-19 pandemic “ultimately derailed” the project, according to a City report. A similar program already exists for garage conversions.
“I think it's very important that we come out in 2022 with a real aggressive approach to dealing with our housing crisis here in the city,” Austin said. “I think this item certainly speaks to that.”
City staff have 60 days to return back to the council with options for the program.
