HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2501-4041CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, February 24, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
13.Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - 2024 Year End Report
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Lead Department: Planning and Development Services
Meeting Date: February 24, 2025
Report #:2501-4041
TITLE
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - 2024 Year End Report
RECOMMENDATION
This is an informational report, and no action is required.
ANALYSIS
This report transmits information related to application activity for accessory dwelling units
(ADU), including junior accessory dwelling units (JADU) for calendar year 2024. Since 2015, the
City has received 800 ADU/JADU building permit applications and issued 624 building permits.
Throughout 2024, the City received 136 new applications, issued 124 ADU permits, and
provided an approved Final Inspection on 105 ADU/JADU permits. As it relates to the Housing
Element, the data continues to support the anticipated housing unit production expected from
ADU/JADUs for the current housing element cycle, which is an average of 64 units per year over
the 8-year planning period or a total of 512 units.
In 2024, the ADU sizes of open applications in this period range from 165 to 1,000 square feet,
with an average size of 558 square feet. Approximately 44% of applications are located north of
Oregon Expressway, and 56% are located south of Oregon Expressway. Since 2017, the majority
of ADU/JADU permits relative to the Oregon Expressway has shifted between north and south
from year to year. Further details can be found in Table 1 of Attachment A.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
This action has no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: 2024 Year End Data
APPROVED BY:
Jonathan Lait, Planning and Development Services Director
Table 1: Summary of ADU Permits from 2015-2024
Category 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
New ADU Applications
Filed1 10 9 28 55 75 78 136 151 122 136
Permits: Ready to Issue
(City Approved)2 8 5 12 39 62 46 112 127 135 131
Permits: Issued (Permit
Obtained)3 8 5 12 36 62 43 89 120 125 124
Permits: Final Inspection
Approved4 3 4 9 12 33 46 37 62 101 105
Permits Expired 1 1 1 6
Detached ADUs
(Submitted)5 20 35 52 52 80 80 48 53
Detached ADUs (Issued)5 8 24 41 33 55 64 57 48
Attached ADUs
(Submitted)6 8 20 23 20 56 44 43 47
Attached ADUs (Issued)6 4 11 21 9 34 32 40 52
Junior ADUs (Submitted)7 1 1 1 25 27 31 36
Junior ADUs (Issued)7 1 1 1 9 24 28 24
Category 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Average Application
Processing Time (Days
Including Weekends)8
127 214 118 183 135 197 162 193 187 193
Average Construction
Time (Days Including
Weekends)9
578 751 330 287 173 262 455 431 496 519
City Impact Fees
Collected for New
ADUs10
$451,514 $402,012 $198,962 $44,057 $139,592 $540,453 $487,322 $498,101
ADU Size Smallest 150 SF 159 SF 220 SF 208 SF 178 SF 192 SF 227 SF 165 SF
ADU Size Largest 900 SF 900 SF 1,031 SF 1,000 SF 1,218 SF 2,217 SF 1,000 SF 1,000 SF
Average ADU Size 470 SF 469 SF 383 SF 518 SF 550 SF 589 SF 571 SF 558 SF
ADU Location
Relative to
Oregon
Expressway
North 46% 49% 52% 55% 49% 52% 41% 44%
South 54% 51% 48% 45% 51% 48% 59% 56%
Source: City of Palo Alto Accela Data January 2015 through December 2024
Notes:
1. Any ADU/JADU Application SUBMITTED for the year
2. Any ADU/JADU application Permit 'READY TO Issue' for the year (regardless of when it was submitted)
3. Any ADU/JADU Permit ISSUED for the year (regardless of when it was submitted)
4. Any ADU/JADU Permit receiving a Final Inspection (Ready to Occupy) for the year, regardless of when the application wassubmitted. Years 2015-2017 data
point not available.
5. Any Detached ADU Permit Application submitted for the year/Any Detached ADU Permit Issued for the year, regardless of when the application was
submitted. Years 2015-2016 data point not available.
6. Any Attached ADU Permit Application submitted for the year/Any Attached ADU Permit Issued for the year, regardless of when the application was
submitted. Years 2015-2016 data point not available.
7. Any JADU Permit Application submitted for the year/Any JADU Permit Issued for the year, regardless of when the application was submitted. Years 2015-
2016 data point not available.
8. Average number of days from permit application submittal to when permit is approved and ready to issue. This average includes weekends and days
application is pending due to applicant preparation of resubmittal or additional information from applicant.
9. Average number of days from permit issued to final inspection completed. This average includes weekends and days staff is waiting for applicant to
schedule the next required inspection; it also includes time related to the construction of a primary residence when the J/ADU is built at the same time.
10. Impact Fees collected for ADU’s permitted for the year. Years 2015-2016 data point not available.
Q1 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
1 ADU South R-1 (8000) 1/2/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 0 485
2 ADU North RM-15 1/8/24 Revisions
Received x 1 566
3 JADU South R-1 1/11/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 478
4 ADU South R-1 1/12/24 Revisions
Received x 1 461
5 ADU South R-1 (7000) 1/16/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 238
6 ADU South R-1 1/29/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 750
7 ADU North R-1 1/30/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 488
8 ADU South R-1 2/1/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 600
9 ADU North R-1 2/1/24 Revisions
Received x 1 495
10 ADU North R-1 2/2/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 300
11 JADU North R-1 2/5/24 Revisions
Received x 1 479
12 ADU South R-1 2/7/24 Revisions
Received x 2 749
13 ADU North R-1 2/9/24 Revisions
Received x 1 324
14 ADU North R-1 2/10/24 Resubmitted x x 1 412
15 JADU North R-1 2/12/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 493
Q1 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
16 JADU South R-1 2/13/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 357
17 ADU South R-1 (S) 2/14/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 519
18 ADU North R-1 2/15/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 2 720
19 ADU North R-1 2/20/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 536
20 ADU South R-1 2/27/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 337
21 ADU South R-1 2/29/24 Revisions
Received x 2 749
22 ADU South R-1 2/29/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 402
23 ADU South R-1 2/29/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 750
24 ADU North RM-15 3/5/24 Fees Due x x 1 645
25 ADU South R-1 3/5/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 805
26 ADU North R-1 (10000) 3/6/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 524
27 ADU South R-1 (S) 3/6/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 750
28 ADU South R-1 (8000) 3/12/24 Resubmitted x 0 608
29 ADU North R-1 3/13/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 749
30 ADU North R-1 3/13/24 Revisions
Received x x 0 392
31 ADU South RE 3/15/24 Incomplete x x 1 675
32 ADU North R-1 3/15/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 479
33 ADU North R-2 3/18/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 360
Q1 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
34 ADU North R-1 (10000) 3/19/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 868
35 ADU South R-1 3/19/24 Revisions
Received x 2 743
36 ADU South R-1 (8000) 3/20/24 Revisions
Received x 1 523
37 ADU South R-1 3/21/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 750
38 JADU North R-1 3/26/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 196
39 ADU South R-1 3/28/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 1,000
Q2 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
40 ADU South R-1 4/2/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 766
41 ADU South R-1 4/3/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 750
42 JADU South R-1 4/4/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 270
43 JADU North R-1 4/5/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 432
44 ADU North R-1 4/5/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 432
45 ADU North R-1 4/9/24 Revisions
Received x 1 534
46 ADU North R-1 4/10/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 2 750
47 JADU North R-1 4/12/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 400
Q2 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
48 ADU South R-1 4/12/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 399
49 ADU North R-1 4/15/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 0 567
50 ADU North R-1 4/16/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 275
51 ADU North R-1 4/19/24 Revisions
Received x 1 534
52 ADU South RM-15 4/23/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 400
53 JADU North R-1 (10000) 4/24/24 Revisions
Received x 1 165
54 JADU South R-1 5/3/24 Resubmitted x x 1 400
55 ADU North R-1 5/7/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 261
56 ADU North R-1 5/9/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 0 340
57 JADU South R-1 5/10/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 238
58 ADU South R-1 (8000) 5/14/24 Revisions
Received x 2 809
59 JADU South R-1 5/16/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 451
60 ADU North R-1 5/23/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 553
61 ADU South R-1 (7000) 5/28/24 Revisions
Received x 2 609
62 JADU South R-1 5/30/24 Revisions
Received x 1 476
63 ADU South R-1 5/30/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 800
64 ADU North R-1 (10000) 6/3/24 Revisions
Received x 2 800
65 JADU South R-1 6/4/24 Resubmitted x 1 500
Q2 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
66 ADU North R-1 6/4/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 445
67 ADU North R-1 6/5/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 355
68 ADU South R-1 6/7/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 749
69 JADU South R-1 6/13/24 Revisions
Received x 1 466
70 ADU South RM-30 6/13/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 565
71 ADU South R-1 6/17/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 613
72 JADU North R-1 6/19/24 Revisions
Received x 1 478
73 ADU South R-1 (7000) 6/20/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 735
74 ADU South R-1 6/24/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 798
Q3 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
75 ADU North R-1 7/3/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 551
76 ADU South R-1 7/16/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 495
77 ADU South R-1 7/16/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 796
78 JADU North R-1 7/17/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 361
Q3 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
79 JADU North R-1 7/18/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 411
80 ADU South R-1 7/19/24 Revisions
Received x 2 798
81 JADU South R-1 7/23/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 494
82 ADU North R-1 (10000) 7/25/24 Resubmitted x 0 678
83 ADU North R-1 7/30/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 438
84 ADU South R-1 7/30/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 326
85 ADU North R-1 7/31/24 Revisions
Received x x 1 413
86 ADU North R-2 8/12/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 672
87 ADU South R-1 8/16/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 1,000
88 ADU South R-1 8/16/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 497
89 ADU South R-1 (S) 8/19/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 360
90 ADU South R-1 8/20/24 Incomplete x 1 522
91 ADU South R-1 8/21/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 3 1,000
92 JADU South R-1 (7000) 8/22/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 400
93 JADU South R-2 8/27/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 499
94 ADU North R-1 8/27/24 Resubmitted x 1 667
Q3 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District
Date
Filed
Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
95 ADU South R-1 (8000) 8/29/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 799
96 ADU South R-1
(7000)(S) 9/4/24 Revisions
Received x 2 520
97 JADU North R-1 (10000) 9/5/24 Revisions
Received x x 0 483
98 ADU North R-1 9/5/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 975
99 ADU South R-1 9/9/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 800
100 ADU South R-1 9/10/24 Resubmitted x 1 800
101 ADU North R-1 9/10/24 Revisions
Received x x 0 292
102 JADU South R-1 9/12/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 390
103 ADU North R-1 9/18/24 Revisions
Received x 0 336
104 ADU North R-1 (10000) 9/19/24 Revisions
Received x 2 748
105 JADU South R-1 9/20/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 0 423
106 ADU North R-1 9/24/24 Revisions
Received x 1 749
107 ADU South R-1 9/25/24 Resubmitted x 1 435
108 ADU South R-1 9/25/24 Resubmitted x 1 435
109 ADU South R-1 9/27/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 3 949
Q4 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District Date Filed Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
110 JADU South R-1 10/3/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 495
111 ADU North R-1 10/3/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 794
112 ADU North R-1 (10000) 10/4/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 717
113 ADU North R-1 10/4/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 800
114 JADU South 10/9/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 464
115 ADU South R-1 10/11/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 750
116 ADU South R-1 10/15/24 Resubmitted x 1 760
117 ADU North R-1 10/16/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 770
118 ADU South R-1 (8000) 10/21/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 690
119 ADU South R-1 10/23/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 798
120 JADU North R-1 11/8/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 496
121 JADU North R-1 11/8/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 441
122 JADU South R-1 11/12/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 286
123 ADU North R-1 11/13/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 557
124 JADU South R-1 11/14/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 499
125 ADU North R-1 (10000) 11/15/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 884
Q4 2024 ADU/JADUs Submitted New Construction Conversion Type of Conversion
# of
Apps
Dwelling
Type
Project
Location
Zoning
District Date Filed Application
Status Attached Detached Attached Detached Garage
Other Acc.
Structure
of Space
# of
bdrms
ADU
Size
126 ADU South RM-30 11/15/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 342
127 ADU South R-1 11/20/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 2 748
128 JADU South R-1 (8000) 12/6/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 1 497
129 ADU North R-1 12/9/24 Pending
Resubmittal x 2 561
130 JADU North R-1 12/10/24 Submitted -
PC Required x 1 498
131 JADU South R-1 12/11/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 1 500
132 JADU South R-1 12/13/24 Submitted -
PC Required x 1 418
133 ADU North R-1 12/18/24 Submitted -
PC Required x x 0 403
134 JADU South R-2 12/19/24 Pending
Resubmittal x x 0 218
135 ADU South R-1 12/19/24 Submitted -
PC Required x 2 800
136 JADU North R-1 12/31/24 Submitted -
PC Required x 0 446