Dear friends,

One of the most successful efforts to build more housing in California is the Accessory Dwelling Unit. If Governor Newsom signs AB 976 into law, it will make permanent a key policy that has encouraged the growth of these affordable homes across the state.

Sometimes known as backyard cottages, casitas, or granny flats, an ADU is a kind of home that is easy for homeowners to build and rent out, often at an affordable price. California YIMBY helped pass legislation to legalize more ADUs, and the results are stunning. Nearly 20% of housing units built in California today are ADUs – more than 20,000 units a year.

Assemblymember Phil Ting proposed AB 976 to extend incentives that make it easier for homeowners to build an ADU – and easier for Californians to afford to stay in our great state. AB 976 passed the Assembly and the Senate this month. Now it needs Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature.

Send a message today directly to the Governor: Sign AB 976!

SEND A MESSAGE >>

ADUs tend to be used as lower-cost rentals, and play a key role in increasing the supply of housing in neighborhoods across California.

According to a report from the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, homeowners cite the ability to offer ADUs for rent as one of the main reasons they build these types of homes. Rental income can serve as an important source of financial security, and since ADU rent typically offsets the cost of construction, ADUs are more accessible for lower-income homeowners.

AB 881, (Bloom), passed in 2020, prohibits local governments from imposing owner-occupancy requirements on properties where ADUs are built until 2025. Prior to AB 881’s enactment, many local governments required the property owner to live in either the ADU or primary home – which killed construction of many affordable rental ADUs.

AB 976 would remove the sunset provision in AB 881, and make permanent the ability for property owners to provide more rental homes with the construction of low-cost ADUs.

So, if you want to help extend incentives for one of the most successful sources of new, affordable homes in California, send a message to Governor Newsom today urging him to sign AB 976!

Thank you for your advocacy, your energy, and your passion – it’s your activism that helps us make a California that’s more affordable and equitable for everyone.

Gratefully,

Matthew

Matthew Lewis
Communications Director
California YIMBY

California YIMBY is a movement dedicated to ending our state’s housing crisis and building a more inclusive, affordable, and accessible state for ALL Californians. If you were forwarded this email, you can join our movement here. DONATE NOW » Want to keep track of housing issues and the YIMBY movement? Sign up for the HomeWork, our newsletter here.

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