Union Street garage conversion to apartment - kitchen interior design

Microunit granny flat with built in furniture (fabricated by Roomax)

Glen Park accessory dwelling unit interior

Exterior of Glen Park garage to apartment conversion

Exterior of Glen Park accessory dwelling units

converting a storage unit to accessory dwelling units in San Francisco

Union Street garage conversion to accessory dwelling unit - interior shot

Union Street accessory carport garage conversion to dwelling units - courtyard

Kitchen and living room of an ADU in Mission co-housing

ADU Expertise

ADU San Francisco, CA

ADU Portfolio

In 2015, San Francisco passed legislation allowing ADUs in apartment buildings, and in 2020, California followed suit. As an early advocate for urban ADUs, OpenScope helped shape San Francisco’s ADU program, assisting in the development of the SF Planning Department’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook published in 2014. OpenScope has since designed dozens of ADUs and continues to consult on new ADU programs across California, with a focus on the San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles regions.

Many apartment buildings have the capacity to add ADUs within the building envelope. Property owners in California can increase their unit count over 25% via a state-mandated ministerial process. At OpenScope Studio, we specialize in unraveling the complex factors that influence the feasibility and quality of multi-family ADUs.

2020 California State ADU Law highlights:

The existing unit count can be increased up to 25% within the building envelope in areas not currently used as housing.
Up to two detached units can be built per parcel in addition to the units within the building.
Detached structures only require 4’ setbacks and can be up to 16’ high, regardless of local zoning.
State law mandates that ADU permits be processed within 60 days.
Parking can be removed to add units, and new units do not trigger additional parking for locations within 1/2 mile of a bus stop or other transit station.