AB 2299: Land use: housing: 2nd units.

The Planning and Zoning Law authorizes the legislative body of a city or county to regulate, among other things, the intensity of land use, and also authorizes a local agency to provide by ordinance for the creation of 2nd units in single-family and multifamily residential zones, as specified. Existing law authorizes the ordinance to designate areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency where 2nd units may be permitted, to impose specified standards on 2nd units, and to provide that 2nd units do not exceed allowable density and are a residential use, as specified.

This bill would replace the term second unit with accessory dwelling unit. The bill would, instead, require the ordinance to include the elements described above and would also require the ordinance to require accessory dwelling units to comply with specified conditions. This bill would require ministerial, nondiscretionary approval of an accessory dwelling unit under an existing ordinance. The bill would also specify that a local agency may reduce or eliminate parking requirements for any accessory dwelling unit located within its jurisdiction.

Existing law requires that parking requirements for 2nd units not exceed one parking space per unit or per bedroom. Under existing law, additional parking may be required provided that a finding is made that the additional parking requirements are directly related to the use of the 2nd unit and are consistent with existing neighborhood standards applicable to residential dwellings.

This bill would delete the above-described authorization for additional parking requirements.

By increasing the duties of local officials with respect to land use regulations, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 65852.2 of the Government Code proposed by SB 1069 that would become operative only if SB 1069 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, and this bill is chaptered last.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.