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The problem in Santa Cruz is that the city is bordered by greenbelt and the ocean. Student population when I first attended UCSC was sub(or maybe close to) 10k. It has grown to nearly 20k, counting part time, etc. In that time, the university has not built beds to keep up with enrollment. The city certainly hasn't added thousands of rooms to keep up.

UC housing apparently has to be paid through campus funds, not through what the state gives it.

When I lived there, I looked into adding an ADU. The city wanted north of 40k in fees and "improvements" like putting in a sidewalk where one didn't exist (and doesn't on the whole block).




California state law since 2019 now allows most single-family homeowners with large back yards to build ADUs without dealing with additional compliance rules from local governments.


This may be apocryphal, but awhile back I heard there hasn't been a permit granted for an ADU within Santa Cruz City Limits since the '89 earthquake.


Not true. Many built. Just a lot of red tape around them.


Did some research and found an article stating it was 8/year granted pre-2002 and 8/quarter after requirements were eased in 2002.

Gives me some hope for the city :)




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