AB2299–2017 Accessory Dwelling Unit Law

Year: 2016–2017

After ten years of research, cityLAB Director Dana Cuff and cityLAB Fellow Jane Blumenfeld co-authored AB2299 for Assemblyman Richard Bloom. In January 2017, this California state law took effect, representing one of cityLAB's core achievements. The law encourages homeowners to build “granny flats” and is significantly increasing their construction all across the state. These housing units go by many names (backyard homes, secondary units, garage apartments, and the one we use here: accessory dwelling units or ADUs). Most homeowners can imagine many ways to use a rental unit on their property – for an elderly relative, extra income, a caregiver, or a grown child living at home. But many homeowners do not know that the City of Los Angeles has made it easier than ever to add a legal rental unit to a single-family home. Even still, the planning and building process is complicated. cityLAB’s guidebook helps homeowners decide if it is possible to build an ADU on their property, provides preliminary answers to key questions,  shows the steps the City will require, and outlines what the design and construction of an ADU will entail.