California homeowners interested in building accessory dwelling units on their property just caught a break, potentially shaving off thousands of dollars in fees and permits.

In a move proponents say will help ease the Bay Area’s housing crisis, Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 1069, making the so-called “granny units” easier and less expensive to build throughout the state.

var _ndnq = _ndnq || []; _ndnq.push([’embed’]);

Supporters of the bill, including the Bay Area Council, argue that easing restrictions could spur the creation of more affordable housing, especially in a region where rent has skyrocketed.

“The governor’s action is an important step in addressing California’s massive housing shortage,” Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council, said in a statement. “The success of SB 1069 represents a major victory for thousands of Californians who are struggling under the weight of skyrocketing rents and home prices.

“This will create housing for teachers, nurses, family members, elders or others who want to live in a community but have been priced out.”

Accessory dwelling units, including backyard cottages and some studio apartments, are typically more affordable than market-rate rentals.

Under the new law, which takes effect in January, water and sewer agencies would be prevented from charging hookup fees for ADUs built within an existing house or an existing detached unit on the same lot. Local agencies also cannot impose parking rules for certain ADUs, including those located within a half-mile from public transit, or units that are part of an existing primary residence.

The bill’s author, Sen. Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, said that when he was working in city government years ago few of these units were being built, largely because of the high amount of fees homeowners had to pay.

“It’s the biggest thing that’s happened in 15 years to relieve some of these barriers and return that power to the homeowner,” Wieckowski said.

The League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties opposed the bill, arguing that it took away cities’ power to regulate these units and could hinder a neighborhood’s character.

But advocates say the bill is a key step toward alleviating the housing crisis. AARP, the California Housing Consortium, the California Teachers Association, the East Bay Leadership Council, SPUR (formerly known as the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association) and other groups supported the legislation.

If just 10 percent of the Bay Area’s 1.5 million owners of single-family homes created granny flats for family members or other tenants, that would add 150,000 new units, the Bay Area Council estimates.

Brown on Tuesday also signed a bill designed to promote more affordable housing. AB 2818, by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, calls for the creation of community land trusts — nonprofit entities that purchase property and sell homes to qualifying low- or moderate-income residents.