Wednesday, Feb 15 2012 - In past years, demand has handily outstripped the supply of permits to build an Auxiliary Dwelling Unit (ADU) – popularly known as guest houses. The demand was so great that, in 2009, the County Council established procedures for a lottery to insure that the opportunities to apply for the limited number permits of would be handled fairly.

But that was the year when the bottom fell out of the construction market. This year, for the second year in a row, there have not been enough valid applications for ADU construction or conversion permits to require a lottery.

By the February 13 deadline this year, only three valid applications had been submitted for the ten available ADU permits. Each of the three applicants will now have an opportunity to submit an ADU application. The remaining seven permits will be available on a first-come, first served basis.

The number of ADU permits that are made available each year is determined by the number of total building permits issued during the previous year.