In 2022, the City issued a record number of 33 permits for the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units. This is a 250% increase over the previous year and over a 600% increase since 2017, when many state and local laws were relaxed to encourage ADUs as a way to address the housing crisis.
Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, are small homes that provide complete independent living facilities on the same parcel as a “primary” home. ADUs are a popular way to provide housing for families, for those looking to downsize, or as an investment for rental income. Property owners see savings when they build ADUs since utility services are already in place, and there is no need to purchase land.
The City’s increase in ADUs can also be attributed to the popularity of the City of Citrus Heights’ Permit-Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit Program (PRADU). Funded by a grant from the State Department of Housing and Community Development, the City’s PRADU program provides free, pre-approved plans for Citrus Heights property owners. Plans include 1 or 2-bedroom units with varying exterior styles and sizes ranging from 499 to 749 square feet. The City’s PRADU program eliminates the need to hire an architect, eliminates the plan review process, and saves Citrus Heights property owners more than $7,000 in plan preparation fees.
To learn more about ADUs or the City’s PRADU program, visit www.citrusheights.net/aducentral