San Diego Okays Fee Waiver on Granny Flats

In an effort to address a critical shortage of local affordable housing, San Diego City Council voted unanimously to waive fees associated with construction of so-called “granny flats,” a secondary living space built on existing residential property.

 

According to a Times of San Diego report, homeowners that seek to build granny flats—also known as “companion units”—will not be required to pay the municipal development impact fees, facility benefit assessment fees and general plan maintenance fees associated with residential construction projects. In order to cover the revenue shortfall by this measure, Mayor Kevin Faulconer has agreed to commit an additional $300,000 in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget and to direct $100,000 to the Public Utilities Department to cover the cost of water and sewer Capacity Fees for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2018.

 

“One of the fastest and least expensive ways we can increase affordable housing in San Diego is to make it easier to build granny flats,” Mayor Faulconer said. “With these new incentives, we’re removing barriers to encourage the construction of new units that San Diegans can actually afford. This will be another tool we’ll use to tackle our housing needs.”

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