All Kinds Drafting Service: What is an Accessory Dwelling

What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)?

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) “are most commonly understood to be a separate additional living unit, including separate kitchen, sleeping, and bathroom facilities, attached or detached from the primary residential unit, on a single-family lot. ADUs are usually subordinate in size, location, and appearance to the primary unit…. [ADUs] usually involve the renovation of a garage, basement, attached shed, or similar space in a single-family home.

Allowing the development of accessory dwelling units, or ADU’s, in single-family homes is becoming an increasingly popular technique for creating workforce housing and moderate-income housing for both homeowners and renters.

Homeowners benefit from the additional rental income that they can use to pay part of their mortgage payment or to help with the upkeep on their homes. Renters benefit from the availability of moderately priced rental housing in single- family neighborhoods. The community benefits from the addition of affordable housing for little or no public expense.”1

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) provide an opportunity to create (affordably priced) housing for working families in Hawaii from the existing inventory of homes. It will cost the taxpayers very little and it will not alter the character of our cherished residential neighborhoods

This can be accomplished by amending the Zoning and Building Codes to legalize the already common practice of illegally renting a Rec Room as a separate studio.

Homeowners benefit from the additional rental income that they can use to pay part of their mortgage payment or to help with the upkeep on their homes. ADU’s may also help homeowners qualify for financing.
Seniors Rental income from ADU’s can supplement retirement income, help with paying for Care Home costs when independent living is no longer practical, and provides the flexibility for family or an assistive companion to reside on the property.
Renters benefit from the increased supply of moderately priced rental housing in single-family neighborhoods.
Community benefits from the addition of affordable housing for little or no public expense. ADU’s also reduce the incentive for landlords to build illegal rentals.
Government increases its tax revenue stream: tax rental income and utility/permit fees; and encourages Smart Growth by stimulating development within existing growth boundaries and using infrastructure already in-place.