ADU impact fees may soon apply only to space above 750 square feet
Direct Answer: SB 1117 would charge ADU impact fees only on interior livable space above 750 square feet, for the first two ADUs on a lot. If signed, it takes effect January 1, 2027. Almost every ADU conversation I have in Salinas starts with size. How big can I build, and what does each extra […]
Building an ADU on a Septic Lot: What Environmental Health Looks For
Direct Answer: An ADU on a septic system in Monterey County needs environmental health clearance before the building permit. The county checks system capacity, soil, and setbacks, which can mean testing or a larger leach field. Most ADU calls I take start with the fun part. The homeowner has a floor plan they like, a […]
Is the $40,000 ADU Grant Still Available? What Salinas Owners Should Know
Direct Answer: No. The CalHFA $40,000 ADU grant has been fully allocated since December 2023, with no new round announced. It also never paid for construction, only pre-development costs like design and permits. The number $40,000 lands in my inbox two completely different ways, and the people sending it are asking two completely different questions. […]
How an ADU Changes Your Property Tax Bill in Monterey County
Direct Answer: Building an ADU does not reassess your whole property. The county assessor values only the new unit and adds that amount to your existing assessment, so your original Prop 13 basis stays intact. The most common question I get about backyard units has nothing to do with framing or finishes. It is some […]
The Water Permit That Comes Before a Building Permit in Monterey and Carmel
Direct Answer: On the Monterey Peninsula, a building permit cannot issue until the water management district issues a water permit, and the city must approve an allocation first. Plan that step before drawings. Here is the pattern I see on the Peninsula more than any other. A homeowner in Monterey or Carmel gets plans drawn, […]
The PG&E Step That Holds Up More ADUs Than Framing Does
Direct Answer: The electric service application is separate from your building permit. File it once plans are approved and an address is assigned, because energization is scheduled by the utility, not your contractor. An ADU budget usually covers the parts a homeowner can picture. Framing, windows, drywall, tile, and the inspections along the way. What […]
Pre-Approved ADU Plans or Custom Drawings: Which Path Fits Your Lot
Direct Answer: Pre-approved ADU plans work best on flat, simple lots building a standard detached unit. Custom drawings are needed for garage conversions, attached units, slopes, coastal parcels, or specific layout requirements. A homeowner out in Carmel Valley wrote in with an existing detached structure in the backyard. The question was whether it could legally […]
AB 1154 Changed the JADU Rules. Here Is What It Means for Rental Income.
Direct Answer: As of January 1, 2026, AB 1154 removes the owner-occupancy requirement for a JADU that has its own private bathroom. If the JADU shares a bathroom, the owner must still live on-site. Most homeowners I talk to in Monterey County already know what a JADU is. It is the small unit carved out […]
What the New Coastal ADU Guidance Means for Monterey and Santa Cruz Homeowners
Direct Answer: SB 1077 requires the California Coastal Commission to give local agencies written guidance simplifying ADU permitting in the Coastal Zone. Local agencies are now updating their Local Coastal Programs, which affects whether your ADU needs a coastal permit. Most homeowners who call me about a Coastal Zone ADU open with some version of […]
Building an ADU for Aging Parents: What the Decision Looks Like
Direct Answer: An ADU for an aging parent comes down to three calls: detached unit or garage conversion, which aging-in-place features go into the drawings, and how the permit sequence fits your lot. Most people who call me about an ADU are not thinking about rental income. They are thinking about Mom or Dad, and […]
