The allure of ADU's has grown significantly. Yet, with new state laws initiated in places like California pre-fabricated options for backyard dwelling units are more accessible to those who want them. 

This past month, Los Angeles launched its new ADU Standard Plan Program to streamline the approval process while "promoting good design" with preapproved plans. In our previous editorial coverage, Los Angeles hopes to cut housing red tape with preapproved ADU designs, our team showcased a selection of designs from architectural firms.

Continuing with coverage of ADU growth, Bloomberg CityLab's Kriston Capps reports on California's new "backyard apartment boom." Using Los Angeles, San Jose, and Portland's ADU growth, there's more to these backyard units than extra space. Kim-Mai Cutler, a partner at the venture capital firm, Initialized and investor for Abodu, spoke with Capps comparing the rise in these made-to-order backyard units as "Amazon Prime for housing." While I have my reservations on relating new pre-fabricated housing plans to Amazon Prime, it's grown apparent that the potential for ADU's accessibility and production outcomes is what sparks this claim. 

Capps also connected with Karen Chapple, professor and chair for the department of city and regional planning at the University of California-Berkeley, for a response. She shared that the pick-up in ADU construction is in part related to the growth of remote work. "The most obvious is interest in remote work and the realization that many single-family homes are not set up well for home offices or multiple home offices," she shared.

It's easy to get carried away with the dreamy and idyllic aesthetics prefab housing companies use to entice homeowners. Companies like Cover and Mighty Buildings are a few examples of groups challenging design, permitting, and construction processes for housing. Yet, increased accessibility and unit options also impact the rental housing market and potential income generation for homeowners. Chapple discusses the "familiarity factor" of backyard units. As more and more residents and neighbors become familiar and "more comfortable" with ADUs popping up, it helps cities issue permits and instills policies like grants, forgivable loans, and bonuses for homeowners. 

Capps concludes this "backyard revolution" won't necessarily solve California's housing shortage. However, it provides another option to what's possible. "For state and local policymakers, the primary goal in expediting backyard flats is to encourage low-cost, low-outrage affordable housing. While they may not be a panacea for California's housing shortage, ADUs offer a naturally affordable option for renters."