In 2019, we began working with Marin County to develop a website, calculator, workbook, and a series of webinars to launch their informative ADU program, with materials and resources for homeowners on everything from design to permits and finance. Housing costs in Marin are at an all-time high, and we partnered with ten cities and towns and the County of Marin to launch ADU Marin, with a mission to help homeowners build ADUs as a solution to help meet housing challenges.

We coordinated with all project partners to produce a series of materials to support homeowners, including a comprehensive step-by-step workbook and website covering all aspects of building an ADU on your property, an ADU calculator to estimate costs, and inspirational stories of real-world ADUs in Marin County. We also packaged each participating jurisdiction’s ADU development rules in an easy-to-understand resource for homeowners, crafted a project-specific ADU glossary, and produced interactive exercises to support the use of the workbook. Each case study on a local ADU featured professional photographs, video spotlights, and written stories to showcase the homeowners’ goals, experience, and design choices.

To help launch the new program, support homeowners, and bring partners together, we also hosted a series of successful webinars that provided an overview of all the new materials, connected homeowners with city officials, and provided additional information on ADU financing and rentals.