Accessory Dwelling Units are Here to Stay
On January 1, 2020, it became easier than ever to build Accessory Dwelling Units in California, thanks to a package of new bills from the state legislature. These bills allow local ADU ordinances across the state to adapt the state law to local circumstances without reducing the ability of homeowners to pursue this additional unit on their property.
The key highlights of the new law are summarized below.
Reduced Costs and Burdens for Developing ADUs
Cities must approve ADU applications within 60 days, without a hearing or discretionary review.
Owners are not required to live at the property.
Cities cannot charge any impact fees for ADUs under 750 sf; fees for larger ADUs are limited.
A city must delay code enforcement against an existing unlawful ADU to allow it to be legalized.
Homeowners associations are not allowed to prohibit the construction of ADUs.
For areas where development is county-controlled, all of these same rules apply to counties.
More information on this package of bills can be found here through Californians for Homeownership. We have developed our own informational guide about building ADUs updated in 2022 which can be found here or by visiting the “resources” section of our website.
adu plan sketch - Bildsten Architecture and Planning
