[11/6/2022 UPDATE]: CALHFA is now giving up to $40,000 for ADUs. For more information click here.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY – After the recent passage of controversial Senate Bills 9 and 10, which legalized duplexes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and small multifamily properties on lots previously zoned exclusively for single-family homes, CALHFA is providing a grant up to $25,000 for homeowners to help alleviate the housing crisis in California. 

The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Grant Program provides a grant to reimburse pre-development costs associated with the construction of the ADU. To qualify for the grant, homeowners need to meet income eligibility requirements.

The new laws come with controversy for some cities and homeowners.

SB 9 allows property owners to have two units on a parcel zoned for single-family housing — creating a duplex — and to split a residential parcel into two pieces. If the property owner used both provisions, something some experts believe is unlikely, a space that once hosted a single home could eventually hold four.

SB10 allows for cities to zone a parcel for up to 10 residential units if it’s located in a “transit-rich area” – a fixed-route bus line.  

According to Los Angeles Conservancy the laws “pose a one-size-fits-all solution and a blunt, statewide fix that would outstrip local authority and planning.”

Proponents of the bills have pointed to rising housing prices across California, arguing that the legislation increases supply and therefore helps to address the issue.

Symbium has launched a new property information portal that enables the public to freely access information about properties and the ability to design an ADU specific to their property. Previously, data about properties was either unavailable, difficult to access, or expensive to obtain, says the company. This reality meant that, in some cases, a digital copy of property information could only be accessed by filling out a paper form. 

“Our mission is basically to streamline the regulatory aspects of residential construction,” said Symbium co-founder and CEO Leila Banijamali. “Homeowners, planners, developers, and real estate agents are starting to become the primary users of this service.”

For more information about the CALHFA ADU Grant program visit https://www.calhfa.ca.gov/adu/index.htm