Takis Talk Episode 12 – California ADUs 2026
Yup a boiler room can be an ADU
Yup a boiler room can be an ADU
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Takis Talk episode 11 dives into the life, leadership, and legacy of Mike Savage, a nationally respected building official, ICC executive board member, master electrician, and former military servicemember whose career has helped shape the modern building safety profession. In this in-depth conversation, Mike shares how a family construction legacy, frontline inspection work, and decades of code development experience have all fueled his mission to protect lives through safer buildings and better-trained professionals.
Takis Talk Episode 11: Mike Savage on Building Safety, Leadership, and Legacy
“Takis Talk episode 11” centers on Mike’s unique path from a contractor’s kid in Maryland to a nationally influential building official and code leader working with jurisdictions across the country. Today, Mike serves as the building official for the Town of Oakland, Florida through industry leader Willdan, where his team manages permitting, plan review, inspections, and building official services as a fully integrated solution for the jurisdiction. He also sits on the International Code Council (ICC) Board of Directors as Secretary/Treasurer, giving him a direct hand in the codes and standards that shape building safety worldwide.
Mike’s roots in construction run deep. His grandfather, Edward F. Savage, ran a general contracting company and raised 16 children, with the sons dropped off at job sites and the daughters helping run the farm and store. That environment instilled a strong work ethic and practical understanding of how buildings go together, which later powered Mike’s journey into obtaining and maintaining his master electrician’s license in Maryland. His commitment to the trades is also personal: Mike’s father died in a construction accident in 1968, a loss that sharpened his awareness of just how high the stakes are when it comes to codes, inspections, and life safety.
From Overwhelmed Inspector to National Leader
One of the most compelling parts of Takis Talk episode 11 is Mike’s candid reflection on his early years as an inspector. He admits he was miserable during his first six months, transitioning from hands-on construction to racing through 30–45 inspections a day, constantly afraid of missing something that could affect budgets, schedules, or lives. With minimal mentoring and a retiring predecessor in “short-timer” mode, he turned to self-study—digging into code books at night and even ordering VHS training tapes—to build the knowledge and confidence he needed.
That hunger for education led him to the Maryland Building Officials Association in the mid‑1990s, where networking and shared learning reinforced his commitment to staying in the profession long-term. Over the years, he carried that same drive into roles in Maryland, New Mexico, and Florida, working in jurisdictions that required everything from partial licensing to full licensing across all four trades, including building code administrator credentials. In Florida today, Mike holds an impressive 11 separate licenses—more than he has ever held in any other state—demonstrating the depth and breadth of his technical and administrative qualifications.
ICC, NFPA, UL, and IAEI: Shaping the Codes That Shape Our World
Takis Talk episode 11 also highlights Mike’s extensive service in the national and international codes and standards arena. Through his governmental membership with ICC, he serves on the ICC Board of Directors and currently holds the officer role of Secretary/Treasurer, helping guide strategy, policy, and member-focused initiatives for the code community. His commitment extends well beyond ICC: he has served on NFPA code-making panels for the National Electrical Code (including as chair of Code-Making Panel 15), as a
Takis Talk Episode 12. California’s 2026 ADU rules make it easier than ever to add a backyard home, garage conversion, or in‑home unit, and smart SEO can help your “California ADU 2026” content get found by the right homeowners, investors, and local officials. This post walks through what changed, why ADUs matter, and how to position your site to capture growing search traffic around California ADUs in 2026.
Takis Talk Episode 12. Why California ADUs Matter In 2026
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs (JADUs) have moved from niche idea to mainstream housing strategy in California. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reports that annual ADU permits grew from just over 1,300 in 2016 to more than 30,000 by 2024, meaning roughly one in four new homes permitted statewide was an ADU
In March 2026, HCD released an updated ADU Handbook that frames ADUs and JADUs as “innovative and effective options” for adding much‑needed housing, especially because they can often be built without buying new land or constructing expensive structured parking or elevators. For homeowners, that translates into a rare opportunity: add a rental unit, house a family member, or create space for a caregiver on the lot you already own, while tapping into new state protections that standardize timelines and limit local roadblocks.
What’s New In California ADU Law For 2026
Several state laws took effect around 2026 that reshape the ADU process and create new talking points for SEO content. SB 543 requires local permitting agencies to decide if an ADU or JADU application is complete within 15 business days and provide a written list of missing items; if they don’t, the application can be deemed complete and the 60‑day approval clock starts. Many agencies also now face “deemed approved” consequences if they fail to act on complete applications within state timelines, shifting leverage toward homeowners and builders.
AB 1154 updates JADU rules so that owner‑occupancy is required only when the JADU shares sanitation facilities with the primary home; if the JADU has its own bathroom, owner‑occupancy is no longer mandatory. The same law reinforces that JADUs cannot be used as short‑term rentals and must be rented for more than 30 days, which is critical for anyone targeting “JADU Airbnb” type searches. On fees, the 2026 handbook reiterates that impact fees are prohibited for ADUs of 750 square feet or less and JADUs of 500 square feet or less, and that larger ADUs must pay fees proportional to their size relative to the primary dwelling.
Key Design And Zoning Standards Homeowners Search For
Many high‑intent searches in 2026 revolve around “how big,” “how tall,” and “how close to the property line” an ADU can be, and state guidance offers clear anchors for content. The 2026 handbook explains that local agencies must still review ADUs for building and safety codes but must rely on objective standards—things like a four‑foot side and rear yard setback—rather than subjective ideas like “neighborhood character.”
For setbacks, the handbook emphasizes protection for at least an 800‑square‑foot ADU with four‑foot side and rear yard setbacks, meaning local rules cannot be used to prevent that baseline unit if other standards are met. On height, local ordinances can set limits, but they may not drop below minimum state allowances, which include at least 16 feet for many detached ADUs and higher limits in certain transit‑related or multifamily situations. In practical terms, this gives you SEO‑friendly topics like “California ADU 4‑foot setback rule,” “16‑foot detached ADU height,” and “can a two‑story ADU be denied?” that directly answer homeowner questions.
Parking, HOA Rules, And Multifamily ADUs
Parking and HOA restrictions generate a large share of homeowner confusion—and search volume. State law now says parking requirements for ADUs can’t exceed one space per unit or per bedroom, and there are multiple scenarios—such as being within a half‑mile of transit or converting an existing structure—where cities cannot require any parking at all. When a garage is converted into an ADU, local agencies generally may not require replacement off‑street parking, a point many homeowners still misunderstand.
On HOAs and CC&Rs, civil code sections described in the 2026 handbook invalidate rules that effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict ADUs or JADUs on single‑family lots, though HOAs can still apply reasonable, objective design standards that don’t drive up costs or block projects. Multifamily properties are also in play: state law allows multiple detached ADUs plus conversion units within existing multifamily buildings, up to a percentage of existing units, creating new pathways for adding housing without full redevelopment. These topics give you rich long‑tail keywords like “HOA can’t block California ADU 2026,” “garage conversion no replacement parking,” and “multifamily ADU rules 2026.” Listen to Takis Talk Episode 12 for the whole story.