Ep 54: Accessory Dwelling Units and State vs. Local Control with Vinit Mukhija (pt. 2)

UCLA Housing Voice

In our last episode we talked with Vinit Mukhija about how informal and incremental development is reshaping single-family housing cities in the Global North. This time Prof. Mukhija is back, getting into the weeds of the policies and politics driving those changes. What are the keys to successful accessory dwelling unit and second unit housing policy, and how do we find the right balance between local control and the intervention of state legislatures?

Show notes:

• Mukhija, V. (2022). Remaking the American Dream: The Informal and Formal Transformation of Single-Family Housing Cities. MIT Press.
• The Los Angeles Times You Do ADU Newsletter.
• Floor plan of Lennar’s “Home Within a Home” new-build housing with interior second unit.
• A history of state ADU reform in California: Casey, D. (2021). A Guide to Ending Single-Family Zoning: Lessons Learned from 39 Years of ADU Legislation. California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund.
• Furth, S., and Remington, J. (2021, April 27). Ordinances at Work: Seven Communities That Welcome Accessory Dwelling Units. Mercatus Center.
• AARP. (2021). Accessory Dwelling Units Model State Act and Local Ordinance.
• Another resource on ADUs: AccessoryDwellings.org.
• Peterson, K. (2018). Backdoor Revolution: The Definitive Guide to ADU Development. Accessory Dwelling Strategies, LLC.
• Crane, R. E. (2020). Is Granny in that Flat? How Regulations Shape the Construction and Use of Accessory Dwelling Units in Los Angeles. University of California, Los Angeles.
• Marantz, N., Elmendorf, C., & Kim, Y. B. (2023). Evaluating California’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Reforms: Preliminary Evidence and Lessons for State Governments. NYU Furman Center.
• Durning, A. (2020, February 21). One of North America’s Boldest Housing Initiatives Has Reached Its End: Did It Work? Sightline Institute.