Critical Planning

Since the passage of AB2299 in 2017, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) production in California has grown significantly. Along with the goals of increasing supply of infill rental housing, targeting new housing units in single-family zoned neighborhoods, and improving affordability, AB2299 intended to create new opportunities primarily for smaller, younger, more diverse, and more innovative building firms. To evaluate this last goal, we conducted ten interviews with three categories of building firms in Los Angeles. We find that architects, contractors, and technology companies see ADUs differently, that there is significant interest in building ADUs but few inquiries turn into finished buildings, and that there are consensus policy proposals in the building industry to produce more. Furthermore, analyzing across interviewees we find that successful ADU builders utilize a production model predicated on standardizing construction elements and processes,partnering with select contractors or engagingin design-build construction, mastering buildingcodes and regulations, engaging directly with localgovernments, and actively pushing for legislativechanges. AB2299 has created new opportunities, butour research suggests that only forward-thinking firmsare capitalizing on these opportunities to better realizethe promise of ADUs.