ADU Considerations

Things to Consider

COSTS
Costs vary dramatically, make sure you have an attainable budget. A good project budget should consider all the costs required to design, permit, finance, and build an ADU. Construction is usually the largest expense in a development budget, but never the only one. Costs to consider include:

• Design and submittal materials
• Contractor
• Demolition (if required)
• Application fees, building permit fees, utility connection fees, and impact fees
• Financing (e.g., lender fees, interest payments, etc.)
• Other professionals based on specific needs (e.g., surveyor, structural engineer, etc.)
• Furnishings and finishes

ADDRESSES
The ADU will be assigned a unique address number if it fits within the current numbering scheme. If both the main dwelling unit and ADU share an address, each unit will be assigned a letter in sequential order (i.e., A for the front unit, and B for the rear unit). A new address is not assigned for a JADU.

SOLAR PANELS
ADUs are subject to the California Energy Code requirement for the installation of solar panels if the unit(s) is/are a newly constructed, non-manufactured, detached ADU. Per the California Energy Commission, the panels can be installed on the ADU or on the primary dwelling unit.

Questions?

Visit our What to Know (FAQ) page to learn more. If you have additional questions, email PlanningEmail@moval.org.