Author: simon

Accessory Dwelling Units

08.29.2024,

ADU, Accessory Dwelling Unit or JADU, Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit is a way to provide additional housing on single or multi-family lots. Its intention is to provide affordable housing options for renters, family members, the elderly, or caregivers. It can also help 1st time buyers to increase income to afford a new home. The following are some key points on ADU regulations:

Number of ADU allow – Under state law, you can provide (1) ADU and (1) JADU per lot, within the proposed or existing single-family dwelling, if certain conditions are met. For multi-family buildings, state law allows up to 25% of the unit count;

In San Francisco, if (4) or less legal dwelling units are on a lot, only (1) ADU is allowed. If (5) or more legal dwelling units are on a lot, then an unlimited number of ADUs are permitted within the existing building. Then, the determination on the number of ADUs will depend on the S.F. Building Code for the abilities to provide natural light, ventilation, and two exits.

Size of the ADU – Under state law, the maximum size of a detached ADU is 1200 sq.ft. for more than one bedroom; local city requirements may vary. For example, the City of Millbrae is 1000 sq.ft. maximum for a detached ADU of more than one bedroom;

Size of the JADU – Under state law, the maximum size of a JADU within the primary dwelling is 500 sq.ft.; local city requirements may vary.

Density Limit – Adding an ADU does not change the allowable density limit of the lot.

Short-term Rentals – ADU cannot be used as short-term rentals.

ADU owner occupancy requirement – Owner occupancy is not required on ADUs, which means both the primary dwelling and the ADU can be rented.

JADU owner occupancy requirement – Owner occupancy is required at the primary dwelling or the JADU.

Height Limits – State law height limit is 16 feet for a detached ADU; In San Francisco, if the lot has an existing or proposed single or multi-family dwelling that is within ½ mile walking distance of a major transit stop, then, the height limit can be 18 feet. In San Francisco, an attached ADU height limit is 25 feet.

Other items to consider for Statewide ADU – The rear & side setback are 4’ from the property line; Lot size, lot coverage, floor area ratio, & open space requirements are exempt for ADU up to 800 s.f. and 16 feet high.

Unit Legalization – In San Francisco, there is also a unit legalization program to help you legalize an in-law unit without the ADU process. In that process, the unit needs to be existed prior to January 1, 2013.

The information provided is for general reference; Every site has unique challenges, we have the training and experience to help you decide if an ADU makes sense for you from a cost, benefit & lifestyle point-of-view. If you think an ADU makes sense, we can help you to explore design options.

1,000 s.f. ADU in Alameda.
1,000 s.f. ADU in Millbrae

Building Permit Questions

08.28.2024,

Safety is the primary reason for building code regulations

The building permit process is a way for the city to regulate the building codes. A building permit is needed for all renovation and new construction. In many cases, a building permit is also needed for repair or replacement of existing fixtures, such as windows replacement. A mechanical, electrical or plumbing permit maybe needed for changes or addition to the existing mechanical, electrical or plumbing system; for example, moving or adding an electrical outlet or a plumbing fixture requires a permit. Most building permits need drawings submitted to the city to show the improvements and the type of construction being proposed. Once the permit is issued, you’re required to build the project and if any changes are made to the work, it must be made with the City’s approval. Some permits can be issued over-the-counter while other permits require additional time for reviews. In San Francisco, a building addition permit can take approximately 24 months. Building codes were created for safety reasons. If you perform work without permit, then, it is a violation of codes and you will be subject to fines and penalties. You will also require to obtain permits for the work created and if the work does not comply with codes, you will have to demolish the work.

Some common building code questions

Opening or Windows – Generally, openings such as windows are not allowed within 0 to less than 3 feet from the property line, unless the windows are facing a street or back yard. Limited windows areas are allow from 3 feet to less than 5 feet. For residential projects, openings are not limited when they are located at 5 feet or greater from the property line.

Ceiling Height – Generally, the minimum ceiling height is 7′-6″; Bathrooms, toilet rooms, kitchens, storage rooms and laundry rooms shall be permitted to have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet.

Egress Window – The size of bedroom window for emergency escape in a wood frame non sprinkler residential buildings should have a minimum net clear open area of 5.7 square feet. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches. The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.

Natural Ventilation – The minimum net openable window to the outside is 4 percent of the area of the room.

Natural Light – The minimum net glass area is 8 percent of the floor area of the room.

Heating – Spaces for human occupancy shall be heated & maintain a minimum indoor temperature of 68°F at a point 3 feet above the floor.

Building Expansion

If you plan to expand your building, consider the following questions.

A.  Will the expansion trigger additional parking?  Most cities prefer to hide or recess the garage door. Some cities will allow one parking at the existing front landscape area as long as a percentage of landscape area remains, approximately 25%.

B. Has the building reached its maximum allowable size or floor area ratio (FAR)?

1.  In City of Millbrae, R-1 single family zone, the allowable area is 55% of the lot area.

2.  In San Francisco, the height limits & horizontal setbacks take more precedence over Floor Area Ratio. All San Francisco residential RH zone areas have a rear setback of 30% of lot depth.

3.  In City of Sunnyvale, a single family house in R-0, R-1 and R-2 zone is 45% of the lot area.

4.  In the City of Burlingame, the maximum lot coverage is 40% for single family lots.

C.   Has the building reached its maximum allowable height limit? Most single family zones in San Francisco have a height limit of 35 feet. Most of the other neighboring cities are approximately 30 feet.

Works exempt from permit per 2022 California Building Code.

Please note individual city may have their interpretation & variation of the California Building Code.
1. One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, workshops, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 s.f. I suggest that if the structure has a roof overhang, then, the projected roof area shall not be greater than 120 s.f.
2. Fences not over 7 feet high. For San Francisco, any fence not over 6 feet at the side or rear of the property & 3 feet in height along the front of the lot. Click Here for more information for fences in San Francisco.
3. Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. If this wall is supporting a surcharge, then it will require a permit.
4. Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets countertops and similar finish work. Painting with scaffolding will most likely need a permit especially if the scaffolding is on the sidewalk or public right of way outside your property.
5. Prefabricated swimming pools in 1 & 2 family dwellings in which the pool walls are entirely above, the pool is less than 24” deep and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons.
6. Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.
7. Swings & other playground equipment accessory to detached 1 & 2 family dwellings.
8. Window awnings in 1 & 2 family dwellings & U occupancies, supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.
9. Non Fixed & movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters & partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches in height.

 

Senate Bill 9, SB 9

12.06.2023,

California State Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) would allow a 2 residential units development in a single-family residential zone to be considered ministerially, without discretionary review, public hearing & CEQA, if the development meets certain requirements by the local agency. SB 9 said this development approach does not require owner occupancy.  Neither unit would be subject to rent control & the units could be sold as condominiums. 

If your property is located within an urban area & your property was not established through a lot split prior to Senate Bill 9; Then you can subdivide your lot into 2 parcels and build 2 homes on each of the 2 new lots allowing for a total of 4 units. SB 9 said the lot split approach requires the applicant to occupy one of the units as their principal residence for a minimum of 3 years. SB 9 allows the local agency to ministerially approve a parcel map for an Urban Lot Split that meets certain requirements by the local agency.

The review & approval process under SB 9 will be “objective” in terms of zoning standards, subdivision standards, and design standards.

Key points to consider:

  1. Qualify Projects must be zoned in a single-family lot; Not a historic site or district; Cannot alter or demolish rent-controlled housing, housing that was Ellis Act in the last 15 years, or housing occupied by a tenant in the last 3 years.
  2. Minimum unit area 800 square feet.
  3. Minimum 4 feet setback at rear & side. (5 feet would be better in some situation)
  4. San Francisco requires minimum 25 feet separation between existing & new buildings.
  5. One parking per unit; Some local agency may consider no parking if parcel located ½ mile walking distance of transit.
  6. Cannot be use as short-term rentals.
  7. If units are attached, it must be design as condominium to allow for separate sale.
  8. Urban Lot Split should result in 2 approximately equal-sized lots (60-40 split). Each new lot is at least 1,200 square feet. Urbanized area is an area with 50,000 or more people. See US Census Bureau for urban area reference maps.

San Francisco projects without public notifications

07.21.2022,

Many projects in San Francisco require public notifications which include demolition, new construction, change in use, exterior alteration or building expansions in residential and some commercial zone areas but there are some exceptions as indicated below.

DORMERS:

Dormers can be added to the attic to create additional usable space without public notifications under the following conditions.
(1) The dormer and all other roof features combined area is less than 20% of the roof area.
(2) The maximum plan dimension of the dormer is 8 feet by 8 feet and setback minimum 3 feet from the side property line.
(3) The dormer setback 10 feet from the front building wall.
(4) The dormer cannot be higher than the peak of the roof.

LIGHWELLS INFILL:

When the lightwell at the property line is against your neighbor’s wall and the lightwell is not visible from any offsite location, and the lightwell is not higher than 10 feet above the neighbor’s ground, then the lightwell infill can be approve without public notification. The Planning Department will need a set of reduced drawings signed by the adjacent owner or tenant. If the proposed lightwell infill is visible from any off-site location, then the public notification is required.

ADDITION BELOW:

When you have a floor supported by columns and the open space below does not exceed one story or twelve feet, you can enclose the open space below without public notifications assuming that the floor above is legal.

DECKS:

An open deck can be built without notifications in RH and RM districts under the following conditions:
(1) The deck is less than 3 feet from existing grade.
(2) Some decks higher than 3 feet on a hill with slope over 15% (1 vertical & 6.6 horizontal)
(3) Decks on posts less than 10 feet above grade, within buildable area, no firewall required & setback 3 to 5 feet from property lines.
(4) Cantilevered decks within buildable area, no firewall required & setback 3 to 5 feet from property lines. Cantilevered deck can be more than 10 feet high as long as it is within the height limit.
(5) Deck on existing structure when the deck is within buildable area, no firewall required & setback 3 to 5 feet from property lines.
(6) Roof decks that are setback 5 feet from all building edges & within buildable area.
Please Click Here for more information on Deck

STAIR REPLACEMENT:

Older building may have the Building Code required egress stair located in the required open space. If the replacement stair is within the same footprint and height of the old stair or minimum required by the current Building Code, then the replacement stair can be exempt from notification. The exemption does not apply to new fire wall when the original stair did not have a fire wall, unless the entire firewall is located next to a blank wall of the adjacent neighbor.

The above 5 exceptions summarizes most but not all the rules, for a complete list of rules and regulations please see San Francisco Planning Department Zoning Administrator Bulletin Number 4.

Americans with Disability Act

12.01.2020,

San Francisco now has a mandatory program to make all commercial business entrance accessible for wheelchair.  In 2016, Ordinance No. 51-16 was passed which requires existing buildings with a place of “public accommodation” to have all primary entrances accessible for people with disabilities.  Click here for more information and we can help you to comply with this requirement.

If you want to renovate an existing commercial space, most likely you will be obligated by the “California Building Code” and the “Americans with Disability Act” (ADA) which is a civil rights law to upgrade your accessibility features such as handicapped parking, main entry, the “Path of Travel” from main entry to the “Area of Primary Function” of the space.  As a building owner or tenant, you have been obligated to do so since 1990 when the “Americans with Disabilities Act” has been in effect.  Most commercial and civic buildings are affected by this federal law in some form or another. Continue reading Americans with Disability Act

PLANTS & FENCES

04.11.2013,

The following are general guideline regarding fences and planting in San Francisco properties.

San Francisco regulations on fences are based on the location of the fences on the property and required yards and setbacks.  All San Francisco residential districts have rear yard requirements and some districts have side yard and front setback requirements.  Some San Francisco commercial districts have rear yard requirement and in any commercial, industrial or mixed use district have residential use at the first story.  Continue reading PLANTS & FENCES

Urban Landscape, San Francisco, California

08.29.2011,

Nihonmachi Terrace is a high density Japanese senior housing complex in San Francisco Japan Center. The existing courtyard consisted of a lawn and a few trees that provided open space for the tenants and visitors. Kwan Design Architect (in association with Robert La Rocca Landscape Architect) revitalizes the courtyard in response to Japanese garden design principals, natural features and sustainable design solutions. The new courtyard included rock garden with raked gravel, pathways and wooden bridges over a dry creek, plants indigenous to the mountains, water scriptural feature, community vegetable garden, windbreak elements and gathering opportunities.

Integrated Project Delivery Process

07.24.2010,

A “traditional project delivery process” is where the owner hires an architect to prepare drawings, then the owner hires a general contractor to bid and build the project. The traditional process could creates communication problems and has higher chance of cost increase during construction. In the “traditional project delivery process”, the architect and contractor boundaries are more restricted.

An “integrated project delivery process” is where the owner requires a level of sophistication and a willingness to get involved. Contractor and suppliers were appointed from the beginning. The architect issued drawings in a collaborative relationship with the owner, contractor and suppliers. Decisions are made when they need to be made to eliminate redundant work. Contractor and suppliers are able to share their knowledge and expertise when it is most valuable in the design process.

Rotunda House, Millbrae, California

02.27.2009,

This project is located within the 65 CNEL Aircraft Noise Footprints based upon the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) 1983 CNEL Noise Exposure Map.  If the properties within this map is constructed after Jan. 1st 1983, or is renovated at a cost equal to 25% or more of the current market value of the home, it must be insulated against aircraft noise to meet FAA noise insulation program standards.  This means that the windows must have a Sound Transmission Class (or STC) rating of 35.  A typical interior wall with one layer of 1/2″ gypsum board on each side of wood stud at 16” on center has an STC of approximately 33.

The window manufacturer we selected cannot provide STC 35 certification as a whole window assembly but the glass itself will perform the STC rating of 30 – 35.  We explained the situation with the building official and were able to obtain approval with the glass specification.

Click here for list of homes in the noise exposure area.

Click here for project images