Accessory Dwelling Units FAQ From The City Of Appleton

From the City of Appleton:

January 19, 2021

What are Accessory Dwelling Units?

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a stand-alone (i.e., detached) single-family home. ADUs go by many different names throughout the U.S., including accessory apartments, secondary suites, and granny flats. ADUs can be converted portions of existing homes (i.e., internal ADUs), additions to new or existing homes (i.e., attached ADUs), or new stand-alone accessory structures or converted portions of existing stand-alone accessory structures (i.e., detached ADUs).

What are Junior ADUs?

Internal, attached, and detached ADUs all have the potential to increase housing affordability (both for homeowners and tenants), create a wider range of housing options within the community, enable seniors to stay near family as they age, and facilitate better use of the existing housing fabric in established neighborhoods. Consequently, many cities and counties have signaled support for ADUs in their plans and adopted zoning regulations that permit ADUs in low-density residential areas.

Why do people build ADUs?

The reasons can vary. For someone might build one so that people can live closer together. Some people build them as a source of extra income. Sometimes ADUs can lead to many different co-beneficial living arrangements, such as renting their ADU to someone who in exchange for lower rent also takes care of some of the property maintenance like shoveling snow or cleaning gutters, or helps provide childcare. The reasons for building an ADU are diverse.

Why would the city of Appleton want to let people build ADUs?

ADUs provide more housing without requiring large neighborhood changes like one would expect from either a new subdivision or a new apartment complex. They provide communities with affordable living options without drastically changing a neighborhood or expanding the area the city has to provide infrastructure or services.

Can I put a mobile home in my backyard and call that an ADU?

No. ADUs must be permanent structures.

How will this impact traffic in my neighborhood if my neighbor builds one?

The impacts should be negligible. It should have no more impact than if one of your neighbor’s kids got their driver's licence or had an adult family member move into a space room.

Can I convert my detached garage into an ADU?

Yes, but it’s probably not as straightforward as one would hope. The garage would have to meet all building and zoning codes for an inhabitable dwelling. This could be a big undertaking so please consult with the City to insure code compliance.

Is the city banning single-family zoned lots?

No. This is a somewhat common misconception of resolutions like this one. While we are allowing for more than one dwelling unit to be present on lots zoned for single family homes, we are not preventing or discouraging the construction of more single family homes throughout Appleton.

So what’s the point of allowing ADUs? Why are you proposing this resolution?

ADUs provide affordable living options while also increasing the housing inventory. Even before the Covid-19, the cost of buying a house or renting an apartment has been rising much faster than wages. The pandemic’s economic impact on many people has further increased the demand for affordable options even in a city the size of Appleton. While the pandemic will eventually subside, the need for more housing and more affordable housing options is not going anywhere.

This press release was produced by the City of Appleton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.