Can I add two accessory dwellings to my home in California?
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Can I add two accessory dwellings to my home in California?

When California passed AB 68, among other groundbreaking legislation related to ADUs, we were thrilled. The new laws gave California homeowners more rights related to adding ADUs to their property, including the right to add two accessory dwellings. So for most homeowners, the answer is yes, you can add two ADUs. Here’s a look at some plans for adding two ADUs developed for a client in Berkeley.

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Photos and plans for an accessory dwelling in Albany, CA
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Photos and plans for an accessory dwelling in Albany, CA

The homeowners’ New Avenue design professional created a home with one bedroom, a bathroom, a washer/dryer, a kitchen, and a living area with bamboo flooring. The family will be able to bring in around $3,000 per month in rental income. The ADU will pay for itself in no time, and they can also use the income to pay for the mortgage on the main home, education, travel, or anything else they may need.

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Building an accessory dwelling for a family compound in Orinda
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Building an accessory dwelling for a family compound in Orinda

New Avenue assessed the property to help the homeowners determine the best course of action. We found that the old ADU was built in 1932, at the same time as the main home. Structural damage, a weak foundation, and asbestos made the original cottage unsuitable as a home.

The family opted to build a new ADU. New Avenue’s experienced design professional created an accessory dwelling that fit beautifully on the property.

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Project of the Week: a huge ADU in El Cerrito
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Project of the Week: a huge ADU in El Cerrito

This successful entrepreneur knows a good opportunity when she sees one. That's why she decided to add an ADU and live in it herself. (She plans to rent out her main house.) While she didn’t feel like she needed the additional income, she knew it would be a great investment.

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Every love is a work in progress

Every love is a work in progress

New Avenue Architect Randolph Ruiz designed this beautiful ADU for a client in Berkeley. Living in a 70-year-old house, the homeowners decided to add an accessory dwelling that they could use for their parents, for their children, or as a rental. Another option was for the homeowners to move in themselves, allowing their family members to use the main home.

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Remodeling a multi-family home in Berkeley
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Remodeling a multi-family home in Berkeley

The owner of a multi-family home in Berkeley came to New Avenue for a major remodel of a two-bedroom, two-bath rental unit. While parts of the unit were salvageable (e.g., the beautiful redwood and a few of the walls), this unit was almost entirely rebuilt. It needed a new foundation and major work in all areas.

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Replacing a shed with a backyard apartment in Berkeley
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Replacing a shed with a backyard apartment in Berkeley

When a couple in Berkeley, CA, looked at the shed in their backyard, they saw its potential to help them with their mortgage. They knew they could replace the shed with something better: an accessory dwelling that they could rent out, bringing in $3,000 or more in rental income—enough to pay for the new ADU and the mortgage on their main home. They also wanted a backyard home they could use for themselves or family as needed.

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Start your journey

Reach out to New Avenue today to begin the transformational process of adding an ADU, renovating your home, and designing and building a custom house for your family.