21 Accessory Dwelling Units
Prior legislation: Ord. 18-1385.
The purpose of this section is to allow and regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) in compliance with Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code.
(Ord. 20-1404 §13 (part), 2020: Ord. 20-1403U §13 (part), 2020)
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §8, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §7, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025)
Effective on: 2/27/2025
An ADU or JADU that conforms to the standards in this section will not be:
(Ord. 20-1404 §13 (part), 2020: Ord. 20-1403U §13 (part), 2020)
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §9, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §8, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
As used in this section, terms are defined as follows:
The following approvals apply to ADUs and JADUs created under this section:
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §11, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §10, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
(Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
The following requirements apply to all Class 1 and Class 2 ADUs and JADUs.
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §12, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §11, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
The following requirements apply only to Class 2 ADUs approved under subsection 17.21.050(B) above. This section does not apply to Class 1 ADUs or JADUs approved under subsection 17.21.050(A) above.
Landscape Requirements. Evergreen landscape screening must be planted and maintained between the ADU and adjacent parcels as follows:
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 24-1485U §13, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §12, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
The following requirements apply to all Class 1 ADUs and JADUs and Class 2 ADUs that are approved under section 17.21.060 above.
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 24-1485U §14, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §13, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 24-1485U §15, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §14, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
Any proposed ADU or JADU that would otherwise be allowed under this Chapter but that does not conform to the objective design or development standards set forth in sections 17.21.010 through 17.21.090 of this section may be allowed by the city with a conditional use permit, in accordance with the other provisions of this title.
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
Accessory dwelling unit or ADU means an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. An accessory dwelling unit also includes the following:
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Accessory structure means a structure that is accessory and incidental to a dwelling located on the same lot.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Complete independent living facilities means permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as the single-family or multifamily dwelling is or will be situated.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Efficiency kitchen means a kitchen that includes all of the following:
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Junior accessory dwelling unit or JADU means a residential unit that satisfies all of the following:
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Livable space means a space in a dwelling intended for human habitation, including living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or sanitation.
Effective on: 4/23/2026
Living area means the interior habitable area of a dwelling unit, including basements and attics, but does not include a garage or any accessory structure.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Nonconforming zoning condition means a physical improvement on a property that does not conform with current zoning standards.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Passageway means a pathway that is unobstructed clear to the sky and extends from a street to one entrance of the ADU or JADU.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Proposed dwelling means a dwelling that is the subject of a permit application and that meets the requirements for permitting.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Public transit means a location, including, but not limited to, a bus stop or train station, where the public may access buses, trains, subways, and other forms of transportation that charge set fares, run on fixed routes, and are available to the public.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Tandem parking means that two or more automobiles are parked on a driveway or in any other location on a lot, lined up behind one another.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
21 Accessory Dwelling Units
Prior legislation: Ord. 18-1385.
The purpose of this section is to allow and regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) in compliance with Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code.
(Ord. 20-1404 §13 (part), 2020: Ord. 20-1403U §13 (part), 2020)
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §8, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §7, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025)
Effective on: 2/27/2025
An ADU or JADU that conforms to the standards in this section will not be:
(Ord. 20-1404 §13 (part), 2020: Ord. 20-1403U §13 (part), 2020)
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §9, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §8, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
As used in this section, terms are defined as follows:
The following approvals apply to ADUs and JADUs created under this section:
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §11, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §10, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
(Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
The following requirements apply to all Class 1 and Class 2 ADUs and JADUs.
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 23-1462 §5, adopted 07/11/2023, effective 08/10/2023; Ord. # 24-1485U §12, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §11, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
The following requirements apply only to Class 2 ADUs approved under subsection 17.21.050(B) above. This section does not apply to Class 1 ADUs or JADUs approved under subsection 17.21.050(A) above.
Landscape Requirements. Evergreen landscape screening must be planted and maintained between the ADU and adjacent parcels as follows:
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 24-1485U §13, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §12, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
The following requirements apply to all Class 1 ADUs and JADUs and Class 2 ADUs that are approved under section 17.21.060 above.
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 24-1485U §14, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §13, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 24-1485U §15, adopted 11/12/2024, effective 11/12/2024; Ord. # 24-1484 §14, adopted 01/28/2025, effective 02/27/2025; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
Any proposed ADU or JADU that would otherwise be allowed under this Chapter but that does not conform to the objective design or development standards set forth in sections 17.21.010 through 17.21.090 of this section may be allowed by the city with a conditional use permit, in accordance with the other provisions of this title.
(Ord. # 22-1456U §2, adopted 12/13/2022, effective 12/13/2022; Ord. # 26-1498 §2, adopted 03/24/2026, effective 04/23/2026)
Effective on: 4/23/2026
Accessory dwelling unit or ADU means an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. An accessory dwelling unit also includes the following:
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Accessory structure means a structure that is accessory and incidental to a dwelling located on the same lot.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Complete independent living facilities means permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as the single-family or multifamily dwelling is or will be situated.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Efficiency kitchen means a kitchen that includes all of the following:
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Junior accessory dwelling unit or JADU means a residential unit that satisfies all of the following:
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Livable space means a space in a dwelling intended for human habitation, including living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or sanitation.
Effective on: 4/23/2026
Living area means the interior habitable area of a dwelling unit, including basements and attics, but does not include a garage or any accessory structure.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Nonconforming zoning condition means a physical improvement on a property that does not conform with current zoning standards.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Passageway means a pathway that is unobstructed clear to the sky and extends from a street to one entrance of the ADU or JADU.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Proposed dwelling means a dwelling that is the subject of a permit application and that meets the requirements for permitting.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Public transit means a location, including, but not limited to, a bus stop or train station, where the public may access buses, trains, subways, and other forms of transportation that charge set fares, run on fixed routes, and are available to the public.
Effective on: 12/13/2022
Tandem parking means that two or more automobiles are parked on a driveway or in any other location on a lot, lined up behind one another.
Effective on: 12/13/2022