The Safe Way to Add an ADU

Leticia Gil never thought home ownership would be in her future. As a single mother of four, finding affordable housing has been a struggle - but that is changing.

Instead of scouring the market for a budget-friendly option, her father decided to build one in his backyard. With help from Habitat for Humanity's Accessory Dwelling Unit program, they were able to turn the extra space on her dad's property into an ADU.

Customers should always contact SCE before starting construction on ADUs.

"I was looking for a place that was big enough for my family and that I could afford on my wages," said Gil. "We were able to work with Habitat for Humanity on an ADU because it was more affordable to build on the empty land behind his house. We were lucky to get into the program."

Building an ADU - also known as granny flats or in-law units - has become vital to affordable housing in California. Constructed safely, ADUs bring extra income to homeowners and more housing supply to the community.

In 2022, over 24,000 permits were issued, comprising 19% of new housing permits. In Baldwin Park, where the Gils live, the city is ramping up its support for these affordable housing options.

"California is experiencing a housing crisis due to expensive building regulations and complex processes," said Emmanuel Estrada, mayor of Baldwin Park. "We've partnered with Habitat for Humanity, committing $5 million to fund land acquisition, new affordable home construction, rehabilitation of older homes and providing ADU construction loans to low-income qualified homeowners."

Southern California Edison's Local Planning department helps builders safely navigate construction and gets the power connected upon completion. SCE should be one of the first calls made at the start of the project.

"Creating a safe and secure environment both during construction and afterward is our main concern," said Ted Gribble, SCE principal manager of Enterprise Risk Management and Public Safety. "When getting the permit to construct an ADU, contact SCE. We'll help ensure that your contractors will be a safe distance from overhead power lines, and that you'll have a smooth permitting process."

During construction on the Gil family's ADU, the power lines in the backyard were too close to where crews would be working. To accommodate the build, the wires would need to be moved.

"We worked with SCE to have two temporary power poles installed on the property," said Brian Stanley, director of Construction Development at San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity. "That addressed safety concerns and maintained power to the primary home throughout the build."

To enable even more widespread adoption, there have been recent changes to ADU laws including shorter times for permit approvals, redefined setbacks and relaxed height restrictions, allowing ADUs to be built up to 25 feet high.

These changes can potentially put workers in closer proximity to dangerous, energized wires and require extreme caution when building near them. SCE planners work with cities so they understand the encroachment process before issuing permits.

For the Gils' project, once SCE was able to remove the wires causing a hazardous situation for the builders, the work was able to continue on schedule.

"We're really happy with the outcome," Gil said. "The escrow closed, and we finally received the keys to the house. We are so excited to use this safe, new, all-electric space."

Here are some safety tips to take into consideration when planning construction:

• Before work begins, contact SCE at (800) 655-4555 to request service.
• Consider all power lines energized and potentially dangerous.
• Keep yourself, your tools and equipment at least10 feet away from overhead power lines.
• Look up before unloading ladders and other equipment or throwing tie-downs.
• Keep cranes, lifts and other tall equipment at least20 feet away from power lines.
• Always use a dedicated spotter on the ground to help workers stay clear of overhead power lines.
• Be mindful of buried underground power lines; dial 811 or visit digalert.org to have underground utilities marked, free of charge.