ADU in Anaheim can't get plan approval

[Matt Kator]

I have been trying to get a detached garage converted into a 1000sqft ADU. Anaheim is dragging it out and always tells me I need some kind of report, they have never mentioned before. It has been 9 months and still can't get approval. Now they tell me I need a grading report, never mentioned it before. But how can I get that when the garage is still standing? I thought they had to follow state laws or something, isn't there a time period or something? Can they drag this out forever??

[Dan H.]

Originally posted by @Matt Kator:

I have been trying to get a detached garage converted into a 1000sqft ADU. Anaheim is dragging it out and always tells me I need some kind of report, they have never mentioned before. It has been 9 months and still can't get approval. Now they tell me I need a grading report, never mentioned it before. But how can I get that when the garage is still standing? I thought they had to follow state laws or something, isn't there a time period or something? Can they drag this out forever??

By law, the jurisdiction has 60 days to reject/approve but 1) that is their 60 days.   Any time they are waiting on you to provide them the requested report does not count.   Unfortunately a jurisdiction that does not want to approve ADUs (not saying Anaheim is one of the jurisdictions that does not want ADUs - I do not know) benefits by telling you one missing report at a time 2) due to covid, I think there is zero enforcement of the 60 day time line.   It makes some sense. 

Do not be surprised if there is still more that you will need to produce. This is one reason if you plan on developing a single ADU, it can be advantageous to pay someone with experience on ADUs in the jurisdiction to work the permit approval. They would know what is required and are less likely to be strung along. Note if you were to build a 2nd ADU in your jurisdiction, you will know the process better and the learning would be beneficial.

Good luck