Casita Program

A casita is a small home located on the same lot as a larger, main house. It typically includes essential amenities such as a bathroom, kitchen, living space and providing a self-contained living area.

Casitas can be created in two ways:

• Attached – Casitas can be connected to the main house, like an add-on or garage apartment.
• Detached – Casitas can stand as a separate building from the main house.

Casitas are sometimes called by other names:

• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
• alley home
• carriage house
• cuartito
• garage apartment
• guest house
• in-law suite

We have a need in our city for affordable housing, and casitas can help.

Casitas can benefit both the homeowner and the renter. Someone needing a place to live can rent the casita at an affordable price. By renting out their casita, the homeowner can then earn extra income and build equity on their property.

The Casita Program is part of our City's Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP). SHIP aims to build and preserve more than 28,000 affordable homes throughout the next 10 years. Our goal is to increase the number of casitas to provide more affordable housing options in neighborhoods.