ADU SLO
Inspiration & Education
Started in 2019, ADU SLO was created to educate, inspire and assist property owners with the logistics of adding housing units to backyards, garages, infill lots and existing buildings that already have infrastructure and an embedded energy grid with the ultimate aim of increasing affordable housing stock. Smart Share supports opportunities for safe and affordable housing through Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), including Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOWs), in San Luis Obispo County backyards.Â
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​Confused about ADUs and THOWs? Looking for more information? Discover the many resources Smart Share can provide.
Workshop Attendees
Contract Services
If you're looking for help...​
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What is an ADU?
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a permanent residential dwelling unit providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, and is accessory to an existing or proposed primary dwelling. An ADU is also called a second unit, a granny flat, in-law unit, or backyard cottage, and is an additional unit of housing added to a parcel of land containing a single-family home. A Junior ADU is a separate living unit within the existing footprint of a primary dwelling.
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There are many benefits of having an ADU, including having a flexible living space that meets the needs of families that are branching, blending, and/or aging. Many homeowners find the supplemental income outweighs the costs of building an ADU, which increases their long term financial stability. Check out the many resources below for the financing aspect of adding an ADU to your home to see if this is right for you.
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​New state rules allowing ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Unit) on most single-family residential lots create opportunity for home providers to become part of the solution by building a new separate living space in their backyard, converting an existing garage to living space, or carving out a separate suite inside the home. Tiny House On Wheels (THOWs) in backyards, currently allowed only in SLO City and Arroyo Grande, are part of this mix of small, affordable-by-design dwellings. These spaces create family flexibility and can provide income through long term rental. ADU SLO is working with a regional ADU task force to educate the community and encourage production of these smaller homes in SLO County.
What is a THOW?
A Tiny Home On Wheels (THOW) is a movable tiny house that is typically separate, independent living quarters with the following characteristics:
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No larger than 400 square feet
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Mounted on a wheeled trailer frame
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Includes basic functional areas that support normal daily routines, including a bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping area
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Designed and built to look like a conventional single-family house (as opposed to a recreational vehicle)
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Utilizes conventional building materials
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A THOW can function as an ADU when added to a property with an already existing or planned primary dwelling. THOWs aren't legal everywhere, so check the regulations in your jurisdiction to know for sure.
THOWs in Arroyo Grande
Tiny homes on wheels aren't legal everywhere. Jimmy Paulding, former Arroyo Grande City Council member, talks about what it takes to get them legalized, and how they are an important part of the housing continuum, enhancing housing affordability and sustainability.
Looking for more on ADUs & THOWs?
Find out more with these links and resources:​​
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Check the Smart Share Housing Solutions YouTube Channel.
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Discover the Casita Coalition's wealth of resources, including informational booklets and videos and legislative updates here: www.casitacoalition.org
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American Tiny House Association: Americantinyhouseassociation.org
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You can also find a wealth of useful information on ADUs from California's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) here: www.hcd.ca.gov.
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Your one-stop source about accessory dwelling units, multigenerational homes, laneway houses, ADUs, granny flats, in-law units: www.accessorydwellings.org
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HelloADU's programs are designed to support homeowners through every phase of the design and construction process creating housing stability for existing homeowners while adding new rental units that are affordable to a median-income tenant: www.hellohousing.org/adus
How to ADU: Arroyo Grande
This is the slideshow from the presentation on building an ADU in the City of Arroyo Grande. This presentation will give some background information to help you understand what it takes to build an ADU, and important points to consider when making a decision.
ADU Construction Update: Sept. 2024
San Luis Obispo County jurisdictions are in the 5th year of their current housing element cycles, and have four years of ADU data now reported. Check out where the cities and the County are at toward meeting their goals below.
Off-Grid Demo Cottage
The Demo Off-Grid Caretakers Cottage: This Tiny Victorian Model from Pacifica Tiny Homes shows how a small living space can function as a safe, efficient and beautiful living environment for the County's 1 in 4 single person households, including SLO's single seniors. Smart Share Housing Solutions holds workshops, coffee chats and other educational opportunities at this Demo House at 466 Dana Street--future site of Waterman Village. Visit our Events page regularly for more information on upcoming activities. ​What is the Demo Off-Grid Caretaker's Cottage? This tiny house gives people the opportunity to explore, see for themselves, and demonstrates that small homes, homes on wheels can be affordable, fully functional and livable off-grid. ​Our Demo home is designed to function completely off the grid, with a waterless toilet and solar system. The systems also highlight all-electric zero carbon and low water use, allowing for more housing with minimal associated environmental impacts. ​Smart Share Housing Solutions aims to get a pilot program approved to place more of these off-grid units in places that could use "caretaker units" to keep an eye on their spaces at night - like churches, service group buildings, and daycare centers. Many of these facilities are committed to helping people out by dedicating parking lot space to a rental unit that can serve the dual function of housing someone and keeping the property safe. ​The Demo Cottage will: *Show off a similar beautiful interior layout as homes proposed for the Waterman Village *Preview the interior layout of proposed Waterman Village homes, which will be roughly the same footprint; possible use as on-site construction caretakers quarters *Help Smart Share Housing Solutions establish a pilot program in the County allowing 5-15 caretakers quarters, off-grid THOWs, on multiple sites at churches and service clubs *Illustrate how a small living space can function as a safe, affordable, beautiful, pleasing, energy efficient home, particularly for the County's 1 in 4 single person households, from a neutral party that has no financial interest in the sale of any particular product *Explore off-grid options: solar electric system and waterless waste systems and how such systems help overcome installation obstacles and save resources. Show off all electric energy efficient appliances, including: induction stove; mini-split heat/ac; combi-washer/dryer *To hold energy efficiency workshops in conjunction with www.3c-ren.org and other partner organizations. Click on the Spec Sheet for further details. Smart Share Housing Solutions is looking to the future to explore and expand opportunities for legal placement of these homes. Legalize beyond the Cities of Arroyo Grande & San Luis Obispo Allow as off-grid units with adequate solar battery storage and waterless waste systems Initiate pilot program to allow 5-15 pilot project caretakers off-grid cottages on multiple commercial/public facility (non-residential) sites at churches, service clubs and other places. Night times occupancy of sites could add value & create a home at lower cost than options.
Looking for more detailed information about the Demo Cottage? Click on the button below to view the Spec Sheet, or come to our next event at the 466 Dana St. location to see it for yourself and ask questions.
Demo Cottage Kitchen
The kitchen includes a combination washer / dryer.