Zoning laws can be confusing. They consist of a multitude of parts and address a wide variety of issues. However, if you plan on building an ADU on your property, you are going to need to know these important things about ADU zoning.
Navigating Zoning Laws
There are two different types of zoning laws; residential and commercial. If the zoning laws you are looking at say commercial at the top, you are looking at the wrong ones. An ADU can only be built on a single residency plot of land, meaning that you can only build it in your backyard and not in the back of an apartment complex.
The tricky part is that not all residential areas have the same zoning laws. So even if you are looking at the residential zoning laws for part of your city, you may still not be looking at the right ones. Since cities are broken up into different zones, you need to make sure you are looking at the laws that apply to the specific zone you live in. You can talk to your city planning board to identify your zone if you are not sure what zone your property falls in.
What’s In Zoning Laws
Zoning laws are a dense set of laws that pretty much determine what you can and can not do with your property. They address everything from fences to chicken coops to earthquake regulations.
The part you need to be concerned about is the ADU section. This section will address how big your ADU can be, whether you can have an ADU or just a JADU, setback requirements, safety regulations, and a lot more. Pretty much is covers everything your designers and planners need to know before they can start their jobs.
You Need To Follow Zoning Laws
If zoning laws sound like too much work and you don’ want to follow all of them, think again. If you don’t abide by all zoning laws you will not get your builder’s permit. Building an ADU without a permit can result in a hefty fine, unsafe living conditions, and your ADU not adding value to your home.