<body><div><figure class="Figure"><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2vt0vi_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2vt0vi_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" ><figcaption class="Figure-caption"> Imagine if this was the view from your street. </figcaption> Photo by <a class="Link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch8nL86jCL8/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> @ohhhwavy </a></figure> In case you’ve been living under a rock , you probably know about the <a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/14/1109345201/theres-a-massive-housing-shortage-across-the-u-s-heres-how-bad-it-is-where-you-l" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> national housing shortage </a> . But did you know that in the last decade, the shortage in DFW has gotten worse, lacking <a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/14/1109345201/theres-a-massive-housing-shortage-across-the-u-s-heres-how-bad-it-is-where-you-l#:~:text=So%20Up%20for%20Growth%27s%20study%20took%20a%20look%20at%20what%27s%20happening%20in%20800%20cities%20and%20towns." rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> 86,000+ units </a><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> for the population? One way to help create more places to live is to increase the occupancy of your property with an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — think: a suite for your in-laws. You asked and we answered. Here are the basics on ADU’s in Fort Worth. What’s an ADU? An <a class="Link" href="https://www.buildinganadu.com/what-is-an-adu" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> accessory dwelling unit </a> is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot that has a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. They can be detached structures <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> (like a guest house or tiny home) , garage apartments, additions, basements, or internal apartments to the main house. The most important thing to remember is that an ADU is an accessory, meaning it is an extension of the main residence , but <a class="Link" href="https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-37808#:~:text=May%20be%20used%20only%20as%20an%20accessory%20dwelling%20unit%20and%20may%20not%20be%20used%20as%20a%20separate%20independent%20residence%20for%20one%2Dfamily%20districts." rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> cannot be used </a> as a separate independent residence . For example, they can be used for an elderly relative, hence the nickname granny flat , but can’t be sold as a separate property. <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-ef0000" name="image-ef0000"></a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1eioTm_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1eioTm_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" ><figcaption class="Figure-caption"> ADUs can take several forms. </figcaption> Graphic courtesy of the <a class="Link" href="https://www.planning.org/knowledgebase/accessorydwellings/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> American Planning Association </a></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> The Dos ADUs are <a class="Link" href="https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-37808#:~:text=Habitable%20accessory%20structures.%20In,residence%20for%20one%2Dfamily%20districts." rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> allowed </a> in Fort Worth in single-family residential zoned areas as long as they meet the city’s requirements — some of which include: <ul><li> Must meet the city’s <a class="Link" href="https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/files/assets/public/development-services/documents/building-code-local-amendments/2021-approved-local-amendments/irc-amendments-2021-ordinance-25383-03-2022.pdf" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> building code </a> for safe, habitable structure </li><li> Must maintain the property’s <a class="Link" href="https://www.bobvila.com/articles/setback-requirements/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> setbacks </a> (or clearance distance from the property line) </li></ul> The Don’ts There are a few things to keep in mind when considering an ADU. The structure cannot: <ul><li> Exceed the height of the primary structure </li><li> Push the property’s total rooftop area over the maximum lot coverage </li></ul> Where do I start? First things first, figure out if your property falls into the correct <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> residential zone , what type of permit you need, and the associated fees . Plug your project details into the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/?_gl=1*aqh60n*_ga*MTIzMDU4MDg3OS4xNjcwODU0NTk5*_ga_R90X60M8G9*MTY3Njk5MTY1NC4xMTUuMS4xNjc2OTkxNjU0LjAuMC4w" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> city’s permit portal </a> to learn more. Scroll through the slideshow for a quick demo. <a class="AnchorLink" id="gallery-5b0001" name="gallery-5b0001"></a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4BqVOw_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4BqVOw_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 1 / 8 <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0owRD2_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0owRD2_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 2 / 8 Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=33iS0r_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=33iS0r_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 3 / 8 <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2IyWHt_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2IyWHt_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 4 / 8 Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=22QguT_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=22QguT_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 5 / 8 Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0UqZxl_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0UqZxl_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 6 / 8 Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3JhBTf_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3JhBTf_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 7 / 8 Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a><source height="563" type="image/webp" width="1000"><source height="563" width="1000"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4WH8US_0kw4V0Bs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4WH8US_0kw4V0Bs00" width="1000" height="563" > 8 / 8 Images from the <a class="Link" href="https://cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> City of Fort Worth </a></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

What to know about building garage apartments, granny flats, and additions on your property.