Pre-fab ADU?

[Fentonite]

My mom died about 3 weeks ago, and my sole mission at this point is to find a way to get an ADU in my back yard and move my dad out of Alabama and into the ADU. Does anyone have experience with the pre-fab ADU?s that seem too good to be true? As in they crane it into your yard and within a few hours, you have a livable space? (Obviously after prep of foundation and utilities). Some of these are ?pods? from china, and some (low-end) can supposedly be had for around $10k. It may be the first time that the libtard government of Colorado has ever passed a bill that benefits me, so I?m hoping to take advantage of it, I?m just terribly uneducated on all things ADU. Appreciate any wisdom.

[FoxtArt]

I'm no expert, and have not read into this in awhile.

Here's the new regulation blurb:

Under the ADU law, the process to obtain approval for an ADU has been simplified. The ADU law requires subject jurisdictions to allow one ADU as an accessory use to a single-unit detached dwelling unit, subject only to an administrative approval process, in any part of the subject jurisdiction that allows single-unit detached dwellings.38 The administrative approval process may not require a public hearing, recommendation, or decision by an elected or appointed public body or a hearing officer.39 Previously, if an ADU was not permitted by the applicable zoning regulations, owners had to have their property rezoned to permit an ADU through a lengthy process that may or may not have resulted in an approval for an ADU.

Additionally, the ADU law requires that subject jurisdictions have objective standards for the approval process. Objective standards for the approval process are defined in the ADU law as those that (1) allow for consistent compliance determinations regardless of the decision maker; and (2) do not require a subjective determination,40 including, without limitation, that an ADU application be consistent with master plans or other development plans, that the ADU be compatible with the land use or development of the surrounding area, or that the ADU be consistent with the ?public welfare, community character, or neighborhood character.?41

From my memory, ADU is capped to half the square footage of the primary residence, and you only get one. So if your primary residence is 3,000 SF, ADU can be no larger than 1,500, still has to be permitted (or otherwise approved through the administrative process), the regulation just makes it "shall issue". I don't believe those limits have changed.

A bigger question I don't have answers for is things like sewer hookups, water hookups, and electrical hookups. Most cities have steep connection fees for those. Are you on sewer? Septic? Does an ADU constitute a new connection? It's like a Taxi Medallion, some places charge 20k just for the right to hook up to something like sewer, not including any cost whatsoever associated with hooking up. 5k is not uncommon for water. That crap can get expensive real quick if it applies to you, and I have not done that research to know if you'll have to do it for an ADU, but I suspect that's a huge reason you see so many "compost toilets" and similar schemes.

As far as the remaining question - yes, you can absolutely crane in a pre-fab, but I would immediately assume a 10k prefab is a scam of some sort. You could barely get a shed in that price range that you could build out the interior and convert for another 10-15k if you did the labor. I'd expect you'll be running 40k minimum to get something in, not including BS municipality hookup fees that may exist, like I just described. And even that estimate may be too low.

Here's another idea: a 4-season camper that is right-sized? Especially if septic is available on the property. Thanks to SB 22-86, campers are considered homesteads like any other property now, and you'd be running a lot less imho. If you intend to someday Airbnb it or move a kid into the ADU, then an ADU may make more sense, also depending on how many years he likely has in him (propane isn't cheap in the winter).

[FoxtArt]

PS, the above quote is not AI or some garbage like that, it's the Colorado Lawyer / CO Bar publication.

https://cl.cobar.org/features/new-ad...s-in-colorado/

[Fentonite]

Thanks Foxart. I don’t plan to ever do any short term rental of it, and the appeal of a prefab is rapidity of occupation (although cost savings wouldn’t hurt). If there are any contractors here who would like to give a quote, open to that, too.

[Great-Kazoo]

Thanks Foxart. I don’t plan to ever do any short term rental of it, and the appeal of a prefab is rapidity of occupation (although cost savings wouldn’t hurt). If there are any contractors here who would like to give a quote, open to that, too.

what's the cost of the adu option compared to adding something to the existing dwelling? Private entrance, kitchen etc. You already have utilities and sewer, might be a budget friendly option.

[StagLefty]

My son turned his basement into a fantastic living space for me here in Maine. I have everything I need down here and couldn't be happier with it.

[Fentonite]

PS, the above quote is not AI or some garbage like that, it's the Colorado Lawyer / CO Bar publication.

https://cl.cobar.org/features/new-ad...s-in-colorado/

what's the cost of the adu option compared to adding something to the existing dwelling? Private entrance, kitchen etc. You already have utilities and sewer, might be a budget friendly option.

My son turned his basement into a fantastic living space for me here in Maine. I have everything I need down here and couldn't be happier with it.

My house was built in the early 1920’s, a typical tiny Edgewater bungalow of that era. I’m afraid it doesn’t have the structural integrity to allow an addition - I doubt it would pass inspection, and the basement floods routinely.

The new ADU law is much more lenient and streamlined to get approval, so I’m hoping I can make that work. Both the power and sewer line run very close to the expected position of the ADU, hoping I don’t get hit too hard on fees.

Thanks for the input!