detached accessory dwelling unit ADU in backyard

Accessory Dwelling Units: Understanding America’s Newest Housing Typology

Explore the latest ADU policy developments from leading American cities, key challenges and opportunities for increasing or limiting ADU production, first-hand examples, and best practices in ADU affordability programs.

  • Preview Course PREVIEW

Course Info

  • Duration 8 video lessons (57 Mins)
  • Published Published
    2022
  • Trending Trending
  • 4.49
Play Video

Preview Course Preview Course

Browse Course Chapters

  • Chapter Locked
    1.
    Introduction
    Chapter Duration 1 min
  • Chapter Locked
    2.
    ADUs: Past and Present
    Chapter Duration 9 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    3.
    ADU Policy Responses
    Chapter Duration 9 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    4.
    ADU Typologies
    Chapter Duration 4 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    5.
    Designing, Permitting, and Building an ADU
    Chapter Duration 12 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    6.
    ADU Affordability and Incentive Programs
    Chapter Duration 8 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    7.
    ADU Affordability and Incentive Programs, Part II
    Chapter Duration 8 mins
  • Chapter Locked
    8.
    Conclusion
    Chapter Duration 3 mins

What You Will Learn

  • Understand current market challenges and opportunities in the ADU market.
  • Understand the various typologies o ADUs.
  • Understand efforts from U.S. cities to encourage/discourage ADUs.
  • Understand the key steps in delivering an ADU-design, permit, and build.
  • Understand costs/timelines to deliver an ADU.
  • Review best practices in ADU affordability programs.

Course Description

Responding to the challenge of the housing affordability crisis and the opportunity to build small-scale housing on underdeveloped single-family lots, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have become a growing part of the housing supply in many American cities. Growing alongside this new housing typology is an industry of builders, developers, policy tools, and affordability programs. The "Accessory Dwelling Units: Understanding America’s Newest Housing Typology" course presents the latest ADU policy developments from leading American cities, key challenges and opportunities for increasing ADU production (or limit it), first-hand examples of ADUs completed by the instructor, and best practices in ADU affordability programs.

Learn these skills

  • Architecture
  • Development
  • Economic Development
  • Equity
  • Financing
  • Housing
  • Land Use
  • Plan Making
  • Public Health
  • Real Estate
  • Regulations
  • Resilience Planning
  • Site Planning
  • Sustainability
  • Urbanism
  • Zoning Codes

AICP CM

This course is approved for 1 AICP CM credit.

AIA CES

This course is 1 LU.

SACPLAN CPD

This course is approved for 1 SACPLAN CPD point.

Meet Your Instructor

Jason Neville

Jason Neville

Jason is an experienced urban planner, redevelopment professional, and affordable housing developer.

Meet Instructor

Join thousands of urban planners on Planetizen Courses

Great course! As a professional planner, I enjoyed learning about the ADU accelerator program. The course summarizes the types of ADU and all the US cities that have been proactive and how it worked for them.
- Rafid S.
5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review
"Extremely relevant topic. I serve on the BOA and have had several cases come across and this gives me a more in depth perspective on the process."
- Rodney M.
5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review
I work for a local government that in the near future is looking to adopt an ADU Ordinance, so I found all of the information as part of this course particularly valuable. I was especially interested in learning about the various Policy Responses and how they can contribute to either an increase or decrease in ADU construction and production.
- Lauren D.
5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review 5 Star Review

Master Urban Planning Skills With A Planetizen Courses Subscription.

Try Free Courses
Computer

High quality video lessons developed by experts.

Analytics

Complete course work to receive a certificate from Planetizen.

Certificate

Test your comprehension with course quizzes.

Cloud

Access reading lists, articles, and other materials prepared by instructors.