In a move that could shake up the way we think about backyard housing, San Diego is considering allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be bought and sold separately from the main home. If approved, this change could turn backyard cottages and tiny homes from family add-ons into fully marketable housing units—offering both a new path to homeownership and a boost to the city’s tight housing supply.
The idea is simple but powerful: give homeowners the ability to legally divide their lot so the ADU becomes its own parcel, with its own utilities, address, and mortgage. Suddenly, what was once an aging parent’s guesthouse or a rental unit becomes a starter home for someone who otherwise couldn’t break into San Diego’s housing market. It’s the kind of policy shift that could ignite a surge in ADU construction—and open the door for offsite builders to step in with fast, affordable solutions.
Of course, the details matter, and so does community buy-in. But if San Diego moves forward, it won’t just be helping its own residents—it’ll be setting a precedent other cities will be watching closely. Because in the fight for housing affordability, ADUs might not just be part of the solution—they might be the patch that fits the hole.
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Gary Fleisher, The Modcoach, writes about the modular and offsite construction industry at Modular Home Source.
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