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<br />16 <br /> <br />Why Adopt a JADU Ordinance? <br />JADUs offer the simplest and most affordable housing option. They bridge the gap between a roommate and a <br />tenant by offering an interior connection between the unit and main living area. The doors between the two spaces <br />can be secured from both sides, allowing them to be easily privatized or incorporated back into the main living <br />area. These units share central systems, require no fire separation, and have a basic kitchen, utilizing small plug <br />in appliances, reducing development costs. This provides flexibility and an insurance policy in homes in case <br />additional income or housing is needed. They present no additional stress on utility services or infrastructure <br />because they simply repurpose spare bedrooms that do not expand the homes planned occupancy. No additional <br />address is required on the property because an interior connection remains. By adopting a JADU ordinance, local <br />governments can offer homeowners additional options to take advantage of underutilized space and better <br />address its housing needs. <br />Can JADUs Count towards the RHNA? <br />Yes, as part of the housing element portion of their general plan, local governments are required to identify sites <br />with appropriate zoning that will accommodate projected housing needs in their regional housing need allocation <br />(RHNA) and report on their progress pursuant to Government Code Section 65400. To credit a unit toward the <br />RHNA, HCD and the Department of Finance (DOF) utilize the census definition of a housing unit. Generally, a <br />JADU, including with shared sanitation facilities, that meets the census definition and is reported to the Department <br />of Finance as part of the DOF annual City and County Housing Unit Change Survey can be credited toward the <br />RHNA based on the appropriate income level. Local governments can track actual or anticipated affordability to <br />assure the JADU is counted to the appropriate income category. For example, some local governments request <br />and track information such as anticipated affordability as part of the building permit application. <br /> <br />Can the JADU Be Sold Independent of the Primary Dwelling? <br />No, the JADU cannot be sold separate from the primary dwelling. <br />Are JADUs Subject to Connection and Capacity Fees? <br />No, JADUs shall not be considered a separate or new dwelling unit for the purposes of fees and as a result should <br />not be charged a fee for providing water, sewer or power, inc luding a connection fee. These requirements apply to <br />all providers of water, sewer and power, including non-municipal providers. <br />Local governments may adopt requirements for fees related to parking, other service or connection for water, <br />sewer or power, however, these requirements must be uniform for all single family residences and JADUs are not <br />considered a new or separate unit. <br /> <br />A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a mobile home or trailer, a group of rooms, or a single room that <br />is occupied, or, if vacant, is intended for occupancy as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters <br />are those in which the occupants live separately from any other persons in the building and which have <br />direct access from the outside of the building or through a common hall. <br />8.B. - Page 66