Everybody wants one, but how do you get one?
Mother in law apartments, or in planning-zoning speak – Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) are a hot topic among homeowners and municipal planning departments countrywide. Especially in urban environments like ours here in Pinellas County where there is room and desire to add a new living space to an existing single family residence.
The need and desire for ADU’s aka Mother-Law-Apartments (MIL)is not necessarily new, but recently, with the renewed focus on the family aging–in-place or multi generational living combined with local community planning needs to add housing units without sprawl, the ADU’s has become the tool of choice.
The challenge is that existing local residential zoning rules and setback restrictions, combined with strict floodplain and FEMA building guidelines, make for a daunting task of getting a good ADU project approved to build.
A few vanguard cities and states in Texas and California have recognized the value of the ADU to meeting stakeholder needs and are aggressively rewriting local planning, zoning and building rules to lower the hurdles and costs of building ADU’s. But here in Pinellas and Hillsborough County, with all our diverse local jurisdictions and very strict construction codes, the process is still very complex and challenging.
I have successfully navigated the design build process of the ADU for other clients, let me do it for you. The payoff is worth the investment, both financially and emotionally. Whether you want “mom” to move in, or have other plans for end use, a careful analysis and feasibility of your project is available at no charge from Justin Vessey Design.
