New housing permits in some parts of the San Francisco Bay Area are almost exclusively accessory dwelling units, drawing some concern from critics who question the efficacy of these units as a tool for bringing down housing costs en masse.
As Christian Leonard explains in the San Francisco Chronicle, ADUs are quickly growing in popularity since the state made it easier and more affordable to build them. Whereas 8% of new housing permits were ADUs in 2019, that share more than doubled to 18% by 2025. “When the Bay Area saw multifamily permits drop in 2024 amid a broad slowdown in new development, ADUs took up a record share of approved homes, nearly 28%.”
FULL STORY: Wealthy Bay Area cities are making progress on housing goals — but they’re almost all ADUs