More permits for ADUs than single-family homes issued in San Diego

According to building permits registered last year, homebuilding is undergoing a boom in San Diego County.

In 2023, builders pulled nearly 12,000 permits, a 21% increase over 2022 and the biggest building spree in 17 years. Although a strong majority of permits in 2023 went to multifamily buildings, with 9,100 permits involving apartments, condos, and townhouses, there was notable growth in another category: accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

In fact, granny flats outpaced single-family construction. Last year, 1,348 ADUs were built across San Diego County, while 1,225 single-family homes were constructed.

Statewide, homeowners added nearly 23,000 ADUs to their properties, the most ever in a single year in California. By allowing smaller, denser units to be put on the market and traded, the state is hoping to create thousands of new affordable homes.

San Jose recently became the first city in California to facilitate a new state law that makes it legal for homeowners to sell ADUs as condos separate from the primary building on the property.

The U.S. is ill-prepared to provide adequate housing for the growing ranks of older people, according to a report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Over the next decade, the U.S. population older than 75 will increase by 45%, growing from 17 million to nearly 25 million, with many expected to struggle financially.

Yale University breaks ground on the nation's largest Living Building student housing complex

University Buildings | Dec 8, 2023

Yale University breaks ground on nation's largest Living Building student housing complex

A groundbreaking on Oct. 11 kicked off a project aiming to construct the largest Living Building Challenge-certified residence on a university campus. The Living Village, a 45,000 sf home for Yale University Divinity School graduate students, “will make an ecological statement about the need to build in harmony with the natural world while training students to become ‘apostles of the environment’,” according to Bruner/Cott, which is leading the design team that includes Höweler + Yoon Architecture and Andropogon Associates.

Almost a million apartment units are currently under construction in the U.S., says Apartment List.

MFPRO+ News | Dec 7, 2023

7 key predictions for the 2024 multifamily rental housing market

2024 will be the strongest year for new apartment construction in decades, says Apartment List's chief economist.

Codes and Standards | Dec 7, 2023

New York City aims to spur construction of more accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

To address a serious housing shortage, New York City is trying to get more homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The city recently unveiled a program that offers owners of single-family homes up to nearly $400,000 to construct an apartment on their property.