The ADU Battle and the Cost of Homes

A battle in the city of San Diego over ADU’s, officially known as “accessory dwelling units” may be over, but the debate will go on.

With the news this week that the City Council has passed an ordinance to lower the caps on the number of ADU’s than can be built on single properties based on the lot size, it is good news for those who live in some city neighborhoods where some developers went wild with the number of these ADU’s on one piece of property.

What was originally an idea to expand the idea of so-called granny flats, small homes in the backyards exploded into a mess under the previously very permissive regulations for ADU’s.

But because some of these projects were approved and some already constructed, before the ordinance was passed, some neighborhoods are stuck with them.

Coincidentally, this week’s news about ADU’s came the same day as the news about the number of single family homes being sold, falling due to the still high prices and higher mortgage rates.

You might say this week’s news is an exclamation mark on the continuing challenge for most San Diegans to be able to afford a home.

(Photo reporting partner 10News)