Abstract
Utilizing interviews to create case studies, this research dives into how local jurisdictions were harnessing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to serve constituent housing needs before state legislation made ADU acceptance compulsory. Inquiry then continued to explore how selected areas in California’s San Francisco Bay Area adapted to the new legislation. Those locations were chosen based on their proximity to Sacramento State, allowing for in person discussions with the anonymous government officials and a sampling from one of the most expensive housing markets in the world. This allowed for results and recommendations that could scale for housing solutions in jurisdictions throughout the state. The crux of such results were that while local jurisdictions were often leaning towards gentle densification using ADUs, the state needed to get involved to make sure ADUs were not only permitted on paper but built in fact. However, when the state prescribes a behavior to its regional authorities, it must be careful to craft enough options for local officials to fit local needs while not being confusing. The state’s new laws, coming into effect in January 2020, will add parameters to the previous legislation that should help cities and counties better develop housing stock while minimizing pressure on surrounding areas and infrastructure. Further study is necessary to understand how these changes will affect California’s housing style long-term.