Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU)

What is a JADU?

• Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) are semi-independent dwelling units no larger than 500 square feet of interior livable space within a portion of an existing single-family home such as a garage, great room, home office, etc.
• JADUs include a bedroom, a food preparation area and storage cabinets, and may include a separate bathroom. JADUs also require separate exterior entrance.

What makes a JADU different from an ADU? 

• A JADU can be no larger than 500 square feet of interior livable space.
• It must be within a portion of an existing single-family home.
• Only 1 JADU is permitted per single-family lot. 
• JADUs can share a sanitation facility (bathroom) with the primary dwelling.
• JADUs can have an efficiency kitchen,
  • A cooking facility with smaller plug-in kitchen appliances.
  •  A food preparation counter or counters that are of reasonable size in relation to the size of the junior accessory dwelling unit. 
  • Food storage cabinets that are of reasonable size in relation to the size of the junior accessory dwelling unit.

Are JADUs subject to owner occupancy requirements?

•  JADUs that include shared sanitation facilities are subject to owner occupancy requirements, where the property owner must live in either the primary dwelling or the JADU. This does not apply if the property is entirely owned by a governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization.