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What is a Mother-in-Law Suite?
With the increasing popularity of Accessory Dwelling Units across the United States, many people are asking questions like "What is a Mother-in-Law Suite?" In some senses, "mother-in-law suite" is one of many alternative names for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU - if you don't know what an ADU is, read this article first). However, despite many of these terms being used as a catchall that describe an ADU generally, a mother-in-law suite specifically refers to an ADU being used for a certain purpose, which, obviously enough, is to provide housing for a mother-in-law, or family members in general. While to some, the idea of your mother-in-law moving into your home sounds like a nightmare, "multigenerational living" is trending upwards, with 12% of households being multigenerational in 1980, but 20% having at least 3 generations of family members living under one roof in 2016. This is very near to the all-time recorded high for this figure from 1950, when it hit 20%. And, according to...
Accessory Dwelling Units and Affordable Housing – A Win-Win for Homeowners and Renters
Colorado Springs has seen significant and steady increases in housing prices for both homeowners and renters in the last several years. From May 2020 to May 2021, the average sales price for a Colorado Springs home jumped 25.1%, from $401,980 in 2020, to $502,961! At the same time, rent prices are up 15.36% compared to last year! It's no wonder that so many people are crying out for local solutions to affordable housing. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are part of the solution to the affordable housing crisis in Colorado Springs, and can help to reduce both the cost of homeownership and the cost of housing for renters in our market. For homeowners, ADUs present a great opportunity to utilize your property to generate passive income that can be used to pay for / help pay for your mortgage payment each month. For example, a homeowner can build an ADU on their property, finance it with a monthly payment of, say, $900, and rent out the space for, say, $1500. This allows the homeowner to...
Colorado Springs ADUs in R-1
Colorado Springs ADUs - Attached ADUs in Single-Family Zones Colorado Springs ADU Ordinances The 3 new Colorado Springs ADU ordinances make building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) possible for many homeowners. These Colorado Springs ADU ordinances went into effect on July 3rd, 2020. The greatest impact of these zoning changes will be permitting single-family-zoned homes (“R-1” zoning) to have attached ADUs. So, owners of these properties have the opportunity to build an ADU and rent out the space to generate extra income. Alternatively, ADUs can be used as guest suites for friends or family. Colorado Springs ADUs as Affordable Housing Solutions Since the new Colorado Springs ADU ordinances have passed, many homeowners are looking to build now. It is no secret that the cost of owning and renting in Colorado Springs is on the rise. Building an ADU is a great way to offset rising housing costs, while also increasing the supply of rental...
Colorado Springs ADUs – 3 Proposed Ordinances
On May 22, 2020, the Colorado Springs City Planning Department presented 3 separate ADU (accessory dwelling unit) ordinances to City Council. These ordinances will be voted on by City Council on June 9. 2020. Here is a summary of the 3 ordinances: Ordinance 1.1 - Accessory Family SuitesThis ordinance proposes that all single-family zoned properties in Colorado Springs will be permitted to add an Accessory Family Suite (AFS). These units will be required to be attached to the primary structure (an internal connection is required), and will allow homeowners to build a second living unit on their property that contains a kitchen, a bathroom, and sleeping quarters. Previous to this ordinance, homeowners were not permitted to add a second kitchen to their home without signing a "Second Kitchen Compliance Affidavit" stating that they would not use the second kitchen in a unit that would be rented or leased. Adding an AFS to your property will not expand the number of occupants permitted to...
Colorado Springs ADU Process Recap
In early 2018, Colorado Springs City Council asked the City Planning Department to explore the idea of expanding the use of ADUs (accessory dwelling units) in Colorado Springs. The Planning/Zoning Department immediately assembled a steering committee and began to research ADUs and outline a plan for how ADUs can be implemented into the Colorado Springs zoning code, in order to best help our community address the encroaching affordable housing crisis in our city. In the Fall of 2018, the committee presented a proposed ordinance for ADUs to several local commissions to receive additional feedback and to refine the ordinance. The community was very accepting of the proposal and, after months of work, a fine-tuned version was presented to the City Planning Commission of December 2019. In the Spring of 2019, the ordinance was presented to City Council for review, at which time City Council determined to host two town halls to allow the community to join in the conversation. These town...