Reduced building fees for second units, especially those that are affordably priced, were extended by the Board of Supervisors last week to incentivize a key strategy for easing Marin’s acute housing shortage. Under the program, which was continued through next year, homeowners can receive a fee reduction of up to $2,500 for an accessory dwelling unit and $1,500 for a junior accessory unit. That reduction grows to $5,000 if the unit is priced so that a moderate-income family can afford it—and up to $10,000 if a low-income family can afford it. In Marin, one of the wealthiest counties in the country, a family of three is considered low-income if it earns no more than $141,000 a year, or 80 percent of the median annual income. A family that earns no more than the median income of $201,550 is considered moderate income. To receive a waiver, a property owner must affirm that the unit will not be used as a short-term rental. Over the last two years, 77 homeowners took advantage of the program, resulting in the overall waiver of nearly $200,000 in fees. “The county has received a steady increase in ADU permit applications in the last five years,” Aline Tanielian, a county planner, told supervisors last Tuesday. “We saw about 35 applications in 2019, and that has increased to closer to 80 to 90 per year.” ADUs are structures that are separate from the main home, such as backyard cottages or converted garages, while JADUs are smaller ADUs located within the main dwelling. An ADU must have a full kitchen and bathroom, while a JADU can share a bathroom and can only have a kitchenette. JADUs must have a separate entrance from the main home. Marin has set a goal of producing 280 ADUs between 2023 and 2031, including 40 affordable units. In hopes of increasing construction, it joined forces with Sonoma and Napa Counties to form a one-stop shop to assist property owners in planning and developing second units. Last year, the ADU center conducted 109 one-on-one consultations, nearly half of those with homeowners in unincorporated Marin. For information, go to https://adumarin.org.