ADUs, or Accessory Dwelling Units, have been around informally for a long time. Commonly called an in-law apartment or granny flat, it is simply a second small dwelling on the same grounds or part of your single family house. It is legally part of the same property as the main home and cannot be sold separately.
Various cities in the Twin Cities metro area started legally allowing ADUs in 2016, but each city has its own ordinances which are not consistent from city to city. Golden Valley just approved them with the rules below.
- Under the ordinance, ADUs must be a minimum of 250 square feet, but no larger than 950 square feet or 35 percent of the main home’s livable square footage, whichever is less.
- Detached units would be restricted to side and rear yards and only allowed on lots of more than 10,000 square feet. City Planner Myles Campbell says there a lot of properties that would not meet this requirement due their narrow lot size such as in the Tyrol Hills area and the northwest corner of the city.
- ADUs must also meet a 10-foot setback requirement, which is more restrictive than 5-foot setbacks the city requires for detached sheds and garages. The units would not be allowed above a detached garage.
- In addition, Golden Valley’s ordinance will require the owner of the property to either live in the main structure or in the ADU. Neighboring Crystal, which approved ADUs in 2018, does not have that restriction.
The Twin Cities Homes By Architects tour last year included a couple very nice ADUs that were over detached garages… it appears a first glance that according to the rules set out above, they would not be allowed in Golden Valley.
Thinking about creating an ADU on your site? Check to see what is allowed in your city.
The Family Housing Fund has created a very helpful handbook, the Twin Cities ADU Guidebook for Homeowners to help you get started, including how to build an ADU.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – shensrud@homesmsp.com
