The ADU dream is growing, and zoning is adapting to keep up.

Cities like Minneapolis, Minnesota, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California are addressing the housing crisis in creative ways

Single-family zoning has been a staple of American cities for most of the past century. All over the US, zoning laws prohibit multi-family housing in certain areas to the detriment of community, affordability, and housing flexibility. In cities like Los Angeles, San Jose, and Portland, over 3/4 of the residential land is designated for single-family units only. It is no wonder our housing prices are skyrocketing in desirable places to live.

The maps below, from The New York Times, show residential areas zoned for single-family homes in pink and those zoned for other housing in blue.

Los Angeles, CA

Portland, OR

San Jose, CA

To the lawmakers who put those zoning laws in place, it seemed like a good idea, although often they had dubious motifs. They could keep parts of the city from becoming more dense and prevent “undesirable” populations from moving into the “nicer” parts of town.

Today, we’re living with the consequences of that outdated thinking. Our cities are facing housing shortages. People can find work, but they can’t find housing. And thanks to supply and demand, housing costs are rising so fast that incomes can’t keep up. Limiting multi-family housing to just a few small areas in a city just doesn’t work anymore. Those old laws are holding us back.

Single-family zoning “means that everything else is banned, Apartment buildings — banned. Senior housing — banned. Low-income housing, which is only multi-unit — banned. Student housing — banned.”

- Scott Wiener, a California state senator

The dream of accessible housing is alive and well

When the city of Minneapolis decided to address the problem, they made one huge change. According to The New York Times, 70% of Minneapolis’ residential land was formerly designated for single-family housing only. But the city council recently voted to allow triplex housing in areas once reserved for single units. The adopted code changes will reduce emissions from long commutes, increase the amount of affordable housing in the city, and allow multi-generational living and other opportunities for those who own property.

This was one of the first widely publicized example of new elected representatives rethinking how our cities should be built and what should be allowed. Thankfully, this trend is spreading across the country. Cities like Portland, Seattle, and even Salt Lake City have been adopting local codes to allow ADUs and other housing to be added to Single Family Zoned properties. And whole states are getting into the debate. Last year the state of Oregon adopted new laws mandating that all cities and towns adopt code language to allow ADUs. Portland then followed suite and adopted the Residential Infill Project, which allows up to 6-units on residential properties if certain affordability requirements are met.

California closely followed with state regulations to make building ADUs legal and easier across the state - mandating that cities adhere to the state limitations and create a streamlined permitting process.

It is clear that people want more flexibility in where they live, what they do with their property, and how they live to meet contemporary lifestyles and needs. Only recently has zoning codes started to adapt to accommodate these needs and desires.

California cities are making housing better a few small steps at a time

The housing crisis in California has hit hard in recent years. It has become incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to find affordable housing in most major cities with the tech boom in San Francisco a prime example. People working in the city have had to move in with relatives, cram their families into tiny, expensive apartments, or live far from their jobs and face long commutes.

In 2018, the California legislature took a huge step and made it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwellings. Now, San Francisco is helping the push toward better housing by giving building owners the opportunity to legalize their unpermitted units. It’s just one sign that San Francisco, like many Bay Area cities, is committed to the dream of greener, more accessible cities.

Here’s a look at the legalization of one San Francisco basement unit.

The dream is becoming reality

By encouraging accessory dwellings, duplexes, and triplexes in areas that were once reserved for single-family dwellings, cities like Minneapolis, Portland, and San Francisco are making a difference for everyone. Seniors can stay in their neighborhoods as they age. More children will have access to good schools and healthy neighborhoods. More people will be able to live closer to work, reducing commutes and vehicle pollution. Homeowners can rent out units, helping themselves and their tenants afford housing in high-demand areas or gain passive income to fund their retirement.

There’s so much that cities can do to ease the housing crisis and help their citizens live healthier, happier lives. It takes big changes, like Minneapolis’ sweeping legislation, and small changes, like San Francisco’s efforts to legalize dangerous, unpermitted units. Anything that makes housing better makes lives better, and we’re all for that.