Garden Grove ADU Conversion Requirements

BCG Technology News

An entertaining conversation about how Garden Grove ADU Conversions work!
Benefits of ADUs:

The City of Garden Grove highlights the following advantages of ADUs:

• Affordability: ADUs are generally more affordable to construct than traditional homes due to not requiring land acquisition, extensive new infrastructure, or structured parking.
• Income Generation: Homeowners can generate rental income by leasing out their ADUs.
• Cost-Effective Construction: Built primarily with wood frame construction, ADUs are significantly less expensive than units within new multi-family buildings.
• Diverse Housing Options: ADUs cater to various housing needs, offering spacious living arrangements suitable for couples, small families, friends, young professionals, seniors, and multigenerational families.
• Increased Housing Supply: ADUs contribute to addressing California's housing shortage.
• Proximity to Amenities: ADUs offer residents proximity to jobs, amenities, and schools.
• Aging in Place: ADUs allow seniors to age in place by providing independent living spaces while remaining close to family for support.

Types of ADUs:

• New Construction: A detached ADU can be built on a property with an existing single-family home or as part of a multi-family development.
• Conversion: Existing spaces within a single-family home, attached structures (like garages), or portions of multi-family dwellings can be converted into ADUs.
• Junior ADUs (JADUs): JADUs are smaller units (up to 500 sq ft) contained entirely within the existing structure of a single-family home, often converted from a portion of the living space or attached garage.

Garden Grove Municipal Code and Planning:

The following are key regulations for ADUs in Garden Grove:

Single-Family Residential (SFR):

• New Construction:
• Maximum size: 850 sq ft (studio or 1-bedroom), 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms), not exceeding 50% of the main house living area for attached ADUs.
• Height: One-story, 16 feet maximum.
• Parking: 1 space per unit (tandem parking allowed), waived if located within 1/2 mile of public transit.
• Setbacks: 20 feet front, 4 feet side and rear (verify utility easements).
• Conversion:
• Requires proof of existing building permits for the space being converted.
• No additional parking required.
• Size must meet California Residential Code (CRC) requirements.
• Accessory structure conversions can have a 150 sq ft expansion for ingress/egress.
• JADU:
• Maximum size: 500 sq ft.
• Must be within the existing single-family home structure (including attached garage conversions).
• Must include an efficiency kitchen but can share a bathroom with the main house.
• No additional parking required; however, garage conversions require replacement parking (up to 8 spaces based on bedroom count).
• Owner occupancy required.

Multi-Family Residential:

• New Construction:
• Up to two detached ADUs allowed per lot.
• Maximum size: 850 sq ft (studio or 1-bedroom), 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms).
• Height: One-story, 16 feet maximum.
• Parking: 1 space per unit or no parking required within 1/2 mile of public transit.
• Setbacks: 4 feet side and rear (verify utility easements), front setbacks vary by zoning.
• Conversion:
• Allowed within existing multi-family structures, limited to 25% of the existing dwelling units.
• No additional parking req

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consulting official sources or government website to determine relevance and accuracy.