Gil Vaisman, founder of GO ADU
Gil Vaisman, founder of GO ADU

Many California homeowners may be sitting on an untapped goldmine without realizing it. An unused backyard could represent an opportunity to create an additional living space, generate rental income, accommodate family members, or increase the long-term value of their property. Yet despite reforms making accessory dwelling units (ADUs) easier to build, many homeowners have not explored what their land could offer. As California expands its support for backyard housing, the conversation needs to move beyond what homeowners are allowed to build and toward how they can make the most of the property they already own.

The scale is significant. The California Department of Housing and Community Development reports that California permitted 30,354 ADUs in 2024, representing more than 26.6% of all homes permitted statewide. These smaller homes have become a meaningful part of the state's housing pipeline.

That pipeline involves more than zoning decisions. The same report explains that the department does not oversee gas and electrical service issues. Complaints involving those services follow separate channels, depending on the utility provider. This division helps explain why housing approval and utility coordination remain distinct tasks.

The policy implication is straightforward. Efforts to expand housing access should also consider how homeowners navigate the steps between approval and occupancy. Clearer responsibilities and earlier identification of site constraints could help make the opportunities created by reform more practical.

For Gil Vaisman, founder of GO ADU, a Los Angeles company focused on ADU design and construction, that coordination deserves greater attention. In his experience, homeowners may begin with the building department and then discover that public works, utilities, or other authorities also have a role. Which organizations become involved depends on the property and proposed work.

His perspective began with building his own ADU as an owner-builder in 2017. Vaisman says choosing inexpensive drafting help initially appeared economical, but delays changed his assessment. That experience shaped his preference for professionals familiar with the jurisdiction where a project will be built. He views local experience as one way to identify requirements earlier and prepare more effectively.

"Managing an ADU project yourself may reduce some upfront expenses, but it also requires a considerable investment of time," he says. "Delays in navigating approvals and coordinating construction can add costs that reduce those initial savings." His emphasis concerns the work involved in coordinating decisions, resolving questions, and keeping a project moving.

Underground work offers a concrete example. Vaisman describes projects where connecting a backyard unit to the sewer required excavation around the existing house. For a homeowner picturing construction confined to an unused corner of the property, that wider disruption can be unexpected. In his view, discussing the likely route early helps families understand both the work and its implications.

He applies the same reasoning to electrical service. On some properties with multiple units, Vaisman explains, adding another dwelling may require changes to existing equipment. He notes that engineering calculations can be necessary before the cost becomes clear. His emphasis is on identifying uncertainty early and explaining which expenses remain provisional.

Pricing discussions, in his view, should also distinguish construction charges from payments owed to utilities or public agencies. A homeowner needs to understand what an estimate includes, what remains outside it, and what further investigation could change. He considers that clarity an essential part of deciding whether a project is financially workable.

Builder capacity deserves similar scrutiny. Drawing on his own experience managing workloads, Vaisman believes homeowners should discuss how many projects a contractor is handling and who will oversee theirs. His broader point is that a proposed schedule needs to reflect the people available to carry out the work.

The planning conversation also extends to how the home will be used. For aging parents, Vaisman favors single-level layouts, bathrooms with room for mobility aids, and consideration of curbless showers. He also encourages thinking about later uses, including whether the unit might eventually accommodate another relative or become a rental.

Taken together, his perspective points toward a more complete definition of readiness. Before construction begins, homeowners should be able to understand the likely approval sequence, unresolved costs, utility work, and responsibility for coordination. For Vaisman, making those details visible is part of turning a housing opportunity into a workable project. That begins with an early conversation about scope and cost.