# Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) supply in California

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2021-03-26

accessory-dwelling-unit, adu-ordinances, bloomberg-citylab, california, development, housing, housing-supply, new-construction, permits-issued, real-estate

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[This recent article](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-25/can-granny-flats-fill-california-s-housing-gap) by Bloomberg CityLab, about "how California set off a backyard apartment boom," has some interesting stats about the extent in which accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are quickly being adopted and delivered across the state.

For one, a majority (87%) of jurisdictions have enacted at least one ordinance related to ADUs, though many have several. These policies might include everything from by-right zoning to some form of financial assistance if you build. Here is a graph showing the cities and counties that have created ADU ordinances since 2013:

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/de76f10c683d1b901e2d4c1b15b43a33.png)

All of this has translated into housing supply. In 2019, California homeowners brought over 12,000 accessory dwelling units to the market (based on permits issued). Though a relatively small quantity based on the state's overall housing deficit, this number is surely growing thanks to policies and programs, [like this one here](https://brandondonnelly.com/2021/03/12/los-angeles-adopts-standard-plan-program-to-encourage-adu-construction/), that are working to remove the barriers to building.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2c19927e358ea9e9f6641470080dcc10.png)

For the full CityLab article, [click here](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-25/can-granny-flats-fill-california-s-housing-gap).

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/accessory-dwelling-unit-adu-supply-in-california)*