Homeowners In Long Beach Offered Up To $250K To Build ADUs

LONG BEACH, CA — The city is offering an incentive to Long Beach homeowners to create an affordable rental unit on their property through its new Backyard Builders Program.

Through the program, the city is offering comprehensive assistance for financing, designing, permitting and constructing a new accessory dwelling unit. Applications are open through Nov. 30 and will be awarded to up to 10 eligible homeowners.

“This new Backyard Builders Program shows our unwavering commitment to providing our community with more affordable housing options and financial flexibility,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This program will also directly support Long Beach property owners and sends the message that we are in favor of building new housing — quite literally — in our backyards.”

As part of the 2024 budget, the city allocated $200,000 to pilot the Backyard Builders Program to help address the affordable housing shortage in Long Beach. The program will provide homeowners with a zero-percent interest, 30-year loan up to $250,000 to design and build an ADU.

In exchange, homeowners must agree to rent their ADU at an affordable rate to an individual or family who meets the program income limits. First priority will be given to homeowners who commit to renting their ADUs to people with housing vouchers issued by the Long Beach Housing Authority.

“There are thousands of individuals and families who are on the Housing Voucher waiting list, and we know stable housing is often the difference between merely surviving and thriving,” said Health and Human Services Director Alison King. “This mutually beneficial program allows homeowners to build equity while providing the upstream solutions we need to prevent homelessness.”

To be eligible for the Program, applicants must own and occupy a single-family home or a multi-family home with up to four units in Long Beach. Applicants must also meet the Program's requirements to qualify for loan financing.

All applicants will be reviewed after the application period ends. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to attend an informational meeting before applying to the program. The meetings will be held online and in person at the following times:

• Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Virtual Zoom Webinar)
• Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Cesar Chavez Park (401 Golden Ave.)
• Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Long Beach Energy Resources Auditorium (2400 E. Spring St.)

To apply for the program, sign up for a meeting and learn more about the program visit longbeach.gov/backyardbuilders.