By Alex Horowitz & Tara Roche | The Pew Charitable Trusts (abridged)
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as tiny homes and in-law suites, are becoming a go-to method to quickly add viable and affordable housing stock. ADUs, which property owners can add in their backyard, garage, or basement and rent out, tend to have lower rents than either apartments or houses and are often affordable for lower-income residents. They also can generate income for owners or provide spaces where family members can care for elderly relatives or others.
ADUs have been legal for many years in cities ranging from Gainesville, Florida, to Anchorage, Alaska. Fourteen states, including Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Montana, and Utah, have passed laws to ensure that property owners can build ADUs. Cities including Denver; Richmond, Virginia; Phoenix; Spokane, Washington; and Salt Lake City have taken similar steps.
And ADUs are widely popular among the public. In Pew’s nationally representative survey on housing issues, 72% of respondents favored allowing ADUs on single-family lots in cities and towns in their state.