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South Bay Cities ADU Calculator

The South Bay Cities Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Calculator is an online tool that enables you to estimate the cost of building an ADU in your city. South Bay residents can create an estimate by entering the desired number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage, while choosing from various ADU construction types. Additional customization is offered to estimate costs, such as opting to use a property manager, public sewer verses septic system, site conditions, construction quality, financing inputs and rent information. Available in English, Spanish and Chinese, the South Bay Cities ADU Calculator reduces barriers to information about ADU development.

Currently, six cities are on the ADU Calculator: Torrance, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, and Rolling Hills. The SBCCOG is working to add all South Bay cities soon.

Please visit the ADU Calculator here: https://southbaycities.aducalculator.org/

The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG)  thanks early funders and supporters of the ADU Calculator including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, San Mateo County, The Association of Bay Area Governments, Napa Valley Community Foundation, Community Foundation Sonoma County, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and others. 

Regional Early Action Planning (REAP)

The SBCCOG received funding for four projects through Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grants from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and administered through the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). REAP supports planning to accelerate housing production through implementable actions that will increase housing supply to meet the 6th cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Below is a brief summary of each REAP project.

ADU Acceleration

The SBCCOG has completed a multifaceted research and planning project that included mapping, economic analysis, policy assessment, infrastructure impacts, surveys of applicants and tenants, best practices, and forecasting of ADU development in the South Bay.  The objective was to provide decision-grade information to the eight participating South Bay cities to improve their ADU programs and meet their Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) requirements. The eight participating cities were El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, and Rolling Hills. This Final Report on ADU Acceleration, prepared by a consultant team headed by Black & Veatch, is based on analysis of robust data to determine housing market impacts, successful and unsuccessful regulations, outreach practices, and city and neighborhood impacts that should be addressed for the ADU program to succeed; recommendations for ADU acceleration are also included.

The Final Report is available here: ADU Acceleration Final Report

Commercial Redevelopment into Housing

The SBCCOG is helping to lead a multifaceted research and planning project to develop tools for cities to identify underperforming commercial segments with potential for redevelopment into housing. Such housing will offer zero-emission mobility options. It’s seeking to identify commercial properties – strip arterials, regional malls, office buildings, and industrial parks – that are strong candidates for redevelopment into sustainable affordable housing in the South Bay.

The Final Report is available here: Commercial Redevelopment into Housing Final Report

Housing Education Forums

The SBCCOG offers workshops and online resources to encourage informed discussions about residential density and design that support a full range of housing options in the South Bay and help decisionmakers and stakeholders understand optimal ways to meet regional housing needs.

The entire Housing Education Forum series is available here: Housing Education Forums

SB 330 Residential and Protected Unit Forms

The SBCCOG is instrumental in creation of a supplemental application form for SB 330 housing development projects to preserve residential dwellings and protected units, prevent displacement, and help South Bay cities meet their RHNA goals.