The Fair Housing Problem with Accessory Dwelling Units in California

Authors

Kylene B. Hernandez, Chapman University

Abstract

"California and unaffordability are effectively synonymous. Living in California is a misnomer for most people, and to say one is surviving/em> in California is even a stretch. With an exceptionally high cost of living and not enough housing to meet the needs of the state’s total population,2 it is no wonder that “even California’s least expensive housing markets are more expensive than [the national] average.”3 As California’s housing crisis continues to worsen,4 housing advocates continue to push forward innovative strategies to create “new housing units for all income levels” throughout the state.5 One recent strategy is the building of accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”).6"