San Jose officials unveiled a new online portal and expedited services for city residents hoping to build accessory dwelling units on their properties.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Councilmembers Magdalena Carrasco, Sylvia Arenas and Pam Foley announced the new online city portal on Tuesday, accessible at www.sjbackyardhomes.com.
Builders of ADUs, also known as "granny flats," also have access to a new full-time "ADU Ally" staff member with the city's Planning, Building and Code Enforcement department to help with the permitting process.
"We have teachers, nurses, college students, seniors, first responders, and so many others desperate to find an affordable place to rent," Liccardo said in a new release. "And at the same time, we have thousands of homeowners interested in creating affordable rental options. The city can and must act as a catalyst to speed up construction of these new units."
The city's Permit Center also launched an "express lane" for ADU projects where once a week on Tuesdays, homeowners and developers can jump to the front of the permitting line and get a building permit in as little as 90 minutes.
Pre-approved ADU designs offered by the city are now also available to builders, and a "Universal Checklist" is accessible at the city's other ADU-dedicated website, www.sanjoseca.gov/ADUs.
