Short answer: Yes, building an ADU raises your property tax bill, but only by the assessed value of the new unit. Your existing home keeps its Proposition 13 base value and is not reassessed. In the Bay Area, the increase is typically $1,500 to $3,000 per year, depending on the ADU's size and assessed value. Key Takeaways No full reassessment: Only the "new construction" portion (the ADU) is assessed at current market value. Your primary residence stays protected under Propos

How a 800sqft custom ADU fit on a pie-shaped lot Discover how a Sunnyvale family overcame space challenges with a custom ADU by VitalizeBuild. Learn how Bay Area zoning, design expertise, and smart construction made their dream possible. For many homeowners in Sunnyvale, Los Altos, and across the Bay Area, an irregular-shaped lot is often seen as a limitation—something that makes building harder, more expensive, or even impossible. But when it comes to Accessory Dwelling Unit

With property prices skyrocketing and the median home size shrinking to just 1,500 square feet—far below the national average of 2,300 square feet—families are struggling to carve out spaces that serve their diverse needs. For entrepreneurs, this challenge is even greater. Creating a productive home office without sacrificing family privacy or personal space is a constant struggle, especially when long work hours blur the lines. In a space-starved region like the Bay Area, fi