Novato, CA approves innovative permitting requirements for accessory dwelling units

Great news for our friends in the north bay! The city council of Novato, California, has approved a new zoning ordinance that creates a new class of ADUs, “Junior Accessory Dwelling Units” or JADUs, with friendlier permitting requirements.

JADUs will be much easier to create than a standard ADU, with many existing requirements relaxed or removed altogether: JADUs do not require additional parking space, nor do they require expensive fire sprinkler systems. This is big news – stringent parking requirements and the cost of sprinkler systems are common barriers to building an accessory dwelling in many cities. The city will also lower overall permitting costs for JADUs by waiving impact fees and reducing planning permit fees.

There is an important caveat, however. JADUs are meant to be repurposed spaces already attached to an existing home, so a standalone structure cannot be classified as a JADU.

Here’s an overview of the key differences between ADU and JADU permitting in Novato:

ADU Junior ADU

 

Size

Access

Parking

Kitchen

Bathroom

 

ADU

150–750 square feet

Interior access to main home not required

One additional space

No limits with proper permitting

Required to qualify as a living space

 

JADU

150–500 square feet, no building expansion

Interior access to main home required, exterior door

No additional space if existing structure already meets requirements

Limits to sink and counter sizes, no gas line

May share the main home’s bathroom


You can read more about these changes in the minutes of the city council meeting.

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