RIGHT : CHRIS HITCHCOCK |
of retirement income . If leased to tenants , ADUs must be rented for more than 31 consecutive days , which can put neighbors ’ minds at ease since short-term rentals can sometimes be a source of noise and rowdy parties . And deed restrictions on ADUs require the owner to live on the property .
Local resident Debbie Lewis converted space in her Woods Cove home into an ADU in 2020 . “ I had always planned to convert the downstairs portion of my home into a granny flat with the thought of either having it for live-in home care during my most senior years , supplemental retirement income or perhaps even living there if I could no longer navigate my three-story home ,” Lewis says . She is currently using it as a rental for those typically staying two to four months . The renters are
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mostly snowbirds staying multiple months in the winter , but also some visiting artists or even locals who need accommodations during a remodel , for example , or newcomers who need a place to stay while looking for a home .
As for the size and amenities required for an ADU , according to the city of Laguna Beach , detached units can be up to 850 square feet or 1,000 square feet depending on the number of bedrooms . For attached ADUs , those measuring more than 800 square feet cannot exceed 50 % of the primary dwelling ’ s square footage . There is no maximum size for converting spaces that already exist as part of the primary home , including garages and other accessory structures .
It ’ s important to note that ADUs are defined as self-contained living units consisting of a
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A Murphy bed and floor-to-ceiling bookcases can maximize space in a small ADU , like in this room designed by Candace Kristensen with pieces by Coyote Custom Woodwork .
RESOURCES CITY ’ S ADU GUIDANCE : LAGUNABEACHCITY . NET / ADU VIDEO OF CITY ADU WORKSHOP : YOUTUBE . COM / WATCH ? V = 4LMAS5RZXAK CITY ’ S ADU HANDBOOK : BIT . LY / 3ENR9NE
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LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 53 |