Bay Area housing costs are at an all-time high, especially in North Bay counties like Napa and Sonoma. Due to the limitations of available land and agricultural land uses, there are not many opportunities to build housing, especially housing that is affordable to the workers that keep local industries moving forward. Developing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), or “Granny Flats,” is one important solution that can help meet our housing challenges. 

The Napa Sonoma ADU Center is a fiscally-sponsored project of Napa Valley Community Foundation with support from Community Foundation Sonoma County and others. We began our work by conducting a series of surveys, data gathering, and focus groups with city and county staff, builders and architects, as well as homeowners who have built ADUs or are interested in building one in the future. This information has helped shape this website and the tools and resources you see today, including an ADU Workbook, ADU Calculator, and spotlights of your Napa and Sonoma County neighbors who have built ADUs, among others. 

Director of the Napa Sonoma ADU Center

Scott Johnson has more than 18 years of experience in project management and urban planning. He has worked statewide for public agencies, private clients, and non-profits on environmental studies, urban infill and equitable housing projects. His work in policy and urban planning is grounded in his early experiences in construction. In recent years he has focused on ADUs as a mechanism to help bring equity and availability back to housing in California. ADUs provide a unique opportunity to provide local housing for local workers while providing flexibility and resilience to the home-owners that build them.

Scott lives in Sonoma County with his wife and children and enjoys hiking, camping, and talking about ADUs to anyone who will listen.