Alameda ADU
At the heart of the Bay Area, Alameda County is home to tight-knit, thriving communities that face a looming housing crisis and ongoing displacement. With the growing need for new housing options in mind, the nonprofit Hello Housing, sponsored by the Alameda County Housing & Community Development Agency, reached out to Community Planning Collaborative to create a toolbox of ADU resources and work with the County to streamline the permitting process.
Through partnership with Hello Housing, Alameda County and city staff, Community Planning Collaborative created new tools for homeowners designed to make the ADU process more accessible. A public-facing ADU Website, Guidebook, and handouts explain the process step by step, and local ADU Spotlight Stories showcase the real impact that ADUs have in the lives of local families and communities. A Homeowner Education Portal, “Can I Build?” Tool, and an ADU Cost Calculator help homeowners bring their ADU dreams into reality by providing individualized guidance on everything from construction to renting. ADU Explainer Videos provide a fun and educational explanation of ADUs, helping the average person understand the ADU development process. This suite of resources create a foundation of understanding that supports homeowners to create new housing opportunities in our communities.
Community Planning Collaborative also worked closely with Alameda County staff to explore their ADU program and learn how to improve internal processes. Consultation with staff and building professionals across California contributed to a Best Practices Memo identifying opportunities to promote ADUs and streamline the permitting process. A Process-at-a-Glance handout, Local ADU Rules Sheets, and Development Application Checklist help staff and applicants navigate the permit process with ease.
A free, online webinar capped off the Alameda County ADU project, where Community Planning Collaborative staff walked attendees through the new ADU tools and facilitated conversations with Hello Housing and County staff on building their own dream ADUs.
“You and the team were an absolute pleasure to work with.
You made the process seamless. This was a huge project for the County and it is such a huge resource for our residents. Everything down to the organization of the final deliverables is amazing! Can’t thank you enough for being great partners for this development.”
