
“Last year, the city received more than 600 permits for accessory dwelling units, also called granny units, which allow property owners to build a detached, smaller home on their property,” according to San Jose Spotlight. “In just the first two months of 2021, the city received 179 applications, putting it on track to receive about 1,000 applications to build by the end of the year.”
In May 2020, the City of San Jose passed new zoning ordinances which made the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) easier for residents in an effort to address the need for more housing options.
In addition to more habitable space, residents also see an opportunity to bring in extra income by building ADUs to rent out with the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in San Jose starting at $2,400 per month. However, getting a traditional ADU can be cost prohibitive since the price of permitting, construction, and materials usually starts at $200,000+ to build a simple addition. Even if the cost of construction does not pose an issue, the logistics of planning, permitting, and constructing a fixed ADU can be like jumping through hoops. In the end, while the need and desire exist, cost and feasibility end up preventing housing solutions like ADUs from coming to fruition.
This is where Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOW) come in. THOWs are an affordable, sustainable, high-quality housing solution that are now legal housing options in the City of San Jose. While ADU construction companies offer models starting around $200,000, a comparable THOW ADU can be completed for significantly less than half of that amount without compromising in quality. This is because THOWs require less permitting than their foundation-based ADU counterparts, are faster and easier to construct, and can be built to code by a reputable tiny house builder to your specifications. Also, a THOW can be built off-site and simply transported to your property in one go, eliminating the need for large and noisy construction equipment for extended periods of time on your property.
Moreover, if you ever sell your property or want to use your THOW as a travel trailer, you can get it certified so that it can be towed by a pick-up and parked anywhere a mobile home is allowed; transport it on freeways, take it to Yosemite for the weekend, or move it onto land you buy at a later date for instant habitation. Compared to traditional ADUs, it’s exactly as easy as it sounds because once the THOW and its parking pad are prepared, there’s no need to worry about how you’ll run utilities to the unit since it can be built to accept standard flexible connections.
Imagine having a high quality, luxury studio apartment on wheels that you can use as an ADU on your property, as a home travel trailer you can take on trips, or send away with your kids as a starter home for them when they move out just to name a few uses! Get started today with the permitting and planning process for your own THOW ADU. We are the only ones around to place the first approved THOW ADU in San Jose, so you know you’re working with the right partner. Book a free consultation with us to get your questions answered and the permitting out of the way so we can start with the design and building phase of your own Tiny Home on Wheels!
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