Removing the Doubt From the Oakland ADU Process
When you’re embarking upon what could be a challenging endeavor like building an Oakland ADU – which requires Oakland building permits and knowledge of the state laws and local ordinances – working with a team of professionals who are deeply rooted in the local planning and building department can save you precious time and money.
An Oakland ADU Ordinance Summary: Don’t Go It Alone.
When it comes to options for creating Oakland ADUs, there are many. They depend on a number of factors, such as whether the property is single-family or multi-family, as well as the type of ADU(s) you are looking to create.
Single-family ADUs can be created from conversion of an existing space or conversion/rebuild of an existing accessory structure. The City of Oakland refers to these as Category 1 ADUs. They can also take the form of a new detached unit or a new addition onto the primary dwelling, which the city calls a Category 2 ADU.
Multi-family options include conversion of non-habitable space like a garage (Category 1), construction of a new detached structure or conversion of an existing detached structure (Category 2), and construction of a new or conversion of an existing accessory structure attached to a primary multi-family dwelling(Category 3). Each of these options has different benefits and tradeoffs.
Depending on which type of ADU you’re considering, regulations vary that can impact the following:
- Unit placement
- Number of units
- Maximum unit size (square feet)
- Maximum height
- Front, side and rear setbacks
- Parking
- Owner occupancy
- Shared or separate utilities
It’s enough to make your head spin, but it is essential that you understand the rules before you move forward with your Oakland ADU project, as much of this will likely help determine the direction your project takes.
As you can run into potentially serious consequences when you side-step any of these laws – and they do change from time to time – it is well worth your time and money to partner with a team of experts that know the ins and outs of planning and designing an Oakland ADU, such as Oakland-based Adapt Dwellings. Experts like Steven Edrington, President of Adapt Dwellings, are able to leverage benefits and relationships like being on a first-name basis with the current and last two Mayors of Oakland, which can help you overcome obstacles you may face when planning and designing your Oakland ADU.
Obtaining Oakland City Permits: ADU Experts Make Sure Your Plans Are Solid.
An Oakland ADU requires a review by the City’s Planning and Building Departments, so after determining that your ADU project is feasible, an application must be submitted with a complete set of plans. The application fee includes the Planning and Building Departments’ time to review and evaluate the application, and an additional fee is charged for the Oakland permit itself. Oakland building permits may also include fees for things like inspections and school taxes. Suffice it to say, Oakland permit fees can represent thousands of dollars and a significant percentage of the overall costs of an Oakland ADU project, so it pays to plan ahead and partner with professionals like the ones at Adapt Dwellings to conduct a thorough feasibility study beforehand.
Oakland City Permits: A Two-Step Process
An initial application to the Planning Department must include a Site Plan showing the existing structures, easements, utilities and proposed location of the ADU. In addition, a Planning/Zoning Application must be submitted and contain a zoning worksheet to ensure that your specific type of Oakland ADU meets zoning requirements. The next step is to submit a Building Permit Application with a full set of plans – but only after you’ve made sure that all of the necessary information, documents, and checklists have been included and addressed. If your head is swimming at this point, it’s yet another reason for you to work with professionals who live and breathe this everyday and who will make sure the plans you submit result in receiving your Oakland permit without delay.
Well-known In Oakland, With Oakland ADU Know-How.
At Adapt Dwellings, we’ve efficiently, economically, and successfully completed numerous Oakland ADU applications. Steve Edrington, who has been working in Oakland since 1995 as a broker, investor, developer and former lobbyist at the East Bay Rental Housing Association has the right connections to get a project unstuck when challenges arise.
Each ADU project begins with an Adapt Feasibility Study where we guide you through the project every step of the way, from design, to Oakland city permits and regulations, to estimated costs. Building an Oakland ADU is not an easy project to do on your own; but with the right team by your side, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Being based in Oakland enables us to understand the way our local jurisdictions look at ADU plans, as well as how to avoid the most common reasons plans are not approved. When we take on your project, you can be assured that our extensive experience and attention to detail in this relatively new world of ADUs translates into planning and designing the right accessory dwelling unit for you.
