In May of 2017, the City of Alameda Planning Board finalized the amendments to the City of Alameda Zoning Ordinance (AMC Chapter 30), which made it possible for Alameda to enjoy the benefits of a backyard cottage or tiny home — also known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).
As of Jan 1, 2020 the City of Alameda – Local Government has revised their ADU zoning process to reduce the administrative and financial burden of permitting a backyard cottage.
In accord with recent CA State regulatory changes, the City of Alameda has adopted new rules that will allow you to have an ADU even if you have a small lot, need to remove a garage to accommodate a backyard cottage or even if your neighborhood has an HOA.
They even posted this picture at the city permit office. 
🙂
Besides being a great idea for family & friends to visit (or stay), or a potential source of rental income, new ADU zoning regulations help us achieve our Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) requirements. These are state-mandated processes in California that assign each local government agency a share of our region’s projected housing needs for different income groups. The goal is that this helps ensure cities and counties plan for and accommodate the housing needs of various income levels within each jurisdiction.
ADUs help provide an important piece of the solution to our housing crisis puzzle as well by helping our community find creative solutions to accommodate more residents. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are a practical and effective way to address the housing shortage in cities like ours. Hats off to the City of Alameda for helping streamline the zoning process and adapting to state regulations, making this an accessible option to a broader range of homeowners.
If you are ready to explore the options please contact us or come to ADU 101: Building A Backyard Cottage in Alameda this Feb. 4, 7-9pm Phoenix Alameda