By Stacy Blair Young and Michele Walman
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) used to be called Granny Flats or Mother-in-Law Flats. This type of additional accommodation has been a popular way to offset the cost of homeownership as well as assisting families in providing for aging parents, nannies or other living situations. These dwellings have traditionally been small, simple lodgings when space in the main property is limited
According to the City of Culver City Planning Division, an ADU is a secondary dwelling unit that provides independent living facilities for one or more persons containing permanent provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation within the same parcel as the single-family dwelling. ADUs can take on three different forms:
- Detached from the primary structure
- Attached to the primary structure
- An interior unit constructed entirely within the existing floor plan with a separate exterior access
ADUs offer many advantages in addition to providing additional living space that is separate from the main house. Benefits include:
- Assistance in meeting the costs of homeownership by bringing in additional income
- A sense of greater security with someone else living on the property
- Reducing and/or sharing costs such as transportation, childcare, and eldercare.
As ADUs have increased in popularity, municipalities have put safeguards in place to maintain property values and neighborhood continuity.
Each city has its own rules and regulations. Culver City, for instance, enacted a moratorium on ADUs on December 11, 2017, prohibiting the construction and development of ADUs in the Culver Crest Hillside neighborhood. Please check with the Culver City Planning Division for permitted residential zones.
Other requirements include stipulations such as:
- ADUs cannot be sold separately from the primary residence
- Short term rentals of less than 30 days are not allowed
- Various fees must be paid to the local municipality
- Owner occupancy in required in one of the units
- No more than one ADU is permitted on a property
- Additionally, there are general provisions that must be adhered to such as
- Zoning
- Size of the ADU (allowable floor area)
- Lot size
- Height
- Parking
- Fire safety
- Design review
- Utility connections
- Setbacks
Please contact the Culver City, City Hall, Planning Division for specific provisions.
To apply for an ADU, you must follow the Application Process.
- Submit a complete set of plans to the Building Safety Division
that comply with all current applicable development standards.
- Prior to Building Permit issuance, you must submit an Address Assignment request fee and Applicant to the Planning Division.
- Prior to the Building Inspection Final, you must file with the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office, a Property Restriction Covenant prepared by the Planning Division.
Accessory Dwelling Units are an innovative and affordable manner to assist with the cost of a mortgage, expenses of family members and others, as well as help California, meet its housing needs.
For more information about Accessory Dwelling Units contact the City of Culver City Planning Division.
Stacy Blair Young and Michele Walman are local realtors who have assisted homeowners in Culver City for over 30 years in buying, selling, investing and leasing real estate.
