Governor Newsom Just Signed 18 Housing Bills into Law
The State of California is finally seeing the value of ADUs, and we couldn’t be happier.
At New Avenue, we’ve always been sure of one thing: accessory dwellings will revolutionize housing. Now, the California legislature and Governor Newsom have taken huge steps to improve access to ADUs, making housing better for both homeowners and renters. This is huge news.
The Office of Governor Gavin Newsom has the details on all of yesterday’s housing bills.
Here are the highlights that affect accessory dwellings:
AB 68 by Assembly member Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) makes major changes to facilitate the development of more ADUs and address barriers to building.
AB 68 means:Permit approvals must happen within 60 days.
You no longer have to replace parking spaces.
You are allowed TWO ADUs, making every home a potential triplex!
You are allowed a minimum of an 800-square-foot ADU, and larger ADUs may be possible.
AB 881 by Assembly member Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) removes impediments to ADU construction by restricting local jurisdictions’ permitting criteria, clarifying that ADUs must receive streamlined approval if constructed in existing garages, and eliminating local agencies’ ability to require owner-occupancy for five years.
SB 13 by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) creates a tiered fee structure which charges ADUs more fairly based on their size and location. The bill also addresses other barriers by lowering the application approval timeframe, creating an avenue to get unpermitted ADUs up to code, and enhancing an enforcement mechanism allowing the state to ensure that localities are following ADU statute.
These are great strides toward fair ADU laws. Better legislation means more accessory dwellings, happier homeowners, are more-accessible housing for renters.
