County Offering Free In-Law Unit Assistance

Thinking about building an in-law unit or “granny flat” in your backyard? Alameda County is piloting a free program to support homeowners in the county's unincorporated neighborhoods as part of a push to build much-needed housing.

The program, called “Bright in Your Own Backyard,” will provide 18 homeowners with up to 100 hours of free feasibility and project management support. Announced last week, the county is working with Hello Housing, a non-profit developer of affordable for-sale homes and a designer-operator of a variety of homeownership programs such as Hello Bright, which encourages homeowners to develop more in-law units or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU).

These living spaces on the property of a single-family home are becoming popular. Some 25% of Bay Area’s 1.5 million homeowners like the idea of adding a second unit, according to a Hello Housing survey.

“By supporting homeowners through every stage of the ADU development process, this critical partnership is changing the way we think about housing in our communities one unit at a time,” said Hello Bright president, Jennifer Duffy. “Whether the occupant is a grandparent or a local public-school teacher, ADUs are creating flexible, affordable homes that keep the local residents in their communities."  

According to Alameda County building standards, secondary dwelling units are complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and generally take one of three forms: a structure attached to the primary home; a detached structure; or a repurposed space like converting a bonus room. There is also a Junior ADU (JADU) designation that is similar to a repurposed space, however they cannot exceed 500 square feet, must be completely contained within the space of an existing residential structure (as opposed to being attached or detached space), have its own separate entrance, and have a basic kitchen setup. A JADU can have a shared bath withApplicants must own and live in their own home and have access to financial resources to design and build the unit. The program is only available to single-family homeowners who live in Ashland, Cherryland, Castro Valley, Castlewood, Fairview, Happy Valley, Hillcrest Knolls, Sunol, and San Lorenzo as well as the unincorporated areas of Hayward, South Livermore, and East Pleasanton.

Applicants must also enter into a written lease agreement with the tenants, who can be friends, family, or even strangers. Rent for the newly constructed unit is subject to a 3-year cap as part to tenants who earn no greater than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) in Alameda County. As an example, monthly rent limits based on 2011 AMI are as follows: $1,918 for a studio unit, $2,192 for a 1-bedroom unit, and $2,466 for a 2-bedroom unit.

Winners must also take a landlord training course prior to leasing their unit.

The deadline for online applications is 5 p.m. on November 27.  Finalists are expected to be chosen by the end of March 2022. A waitlist will also be decided by then in case a finalist decides to drop out. 

 Qualified homeowners are asked to apply at: https://www.hellobright.org/ac-how-to-apply