Senator Min Proposes ADU Incentives for Cities in Compliance with State Housing Goals
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The introduction of Senate Bill (SB) 1055 by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) provides local jurisdictions the flexibility in ministerial approval height limits for attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) once Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) numbers are met for low and very low income categories. The incentive would be applied only when the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) determines those targets to be sufficient under current state housing law, and allows for the streamlined approval of ADU heights to 16 feet instead of 25 feet, which is an incentive for cities seeking to maintain community character while balancing the need for greater housing supply.
“California is facing a housing crisis, which is why I have consistently supported measures to increase our housing supply,” said Senator Dave Min. “At the same time, it is important to recognize that occasionally the solutions we pass out of Sacramento can have unanticipated side effects in a state as large and diverse as ours. One such issue, which SB 1055 aims to address, is that ADUs get built to improve the homeowners’ views of the coast with no intention of ever using this to increase housing supply, while also creating obstructions for surrounding homeowners. SB 1055 will address this issue while actually and significantly increasing the supply of affordable housing, which would be a win-win for California and equity generally. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside my partners on the Laguna Beach City Council.”
“The City of Laguna Beach extends our sincere gratitude to Senator Min for his authorship and support of SB1055,” said Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf. “While the City of Laguna Beach recognizes the need for affordable housing, reverting to ministerial approval of 16ft ADU's and requiring 25 ft ADU's to undergo a longstanding design review process will provide needed flexibility while achieving housing goals.
“Local control requires local responsibility. SB 1055 incentivizes cities to support the production of critically needed affordable housing and ensures that effective streamlining results in actual units of housing. I’m grateful for Senator Min’s partnership on this important legislation,” said Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Alex Rounaghi.
“SB 1055 is a step in the right direction to tackle California's housing challenges while preserving our neighborhoods,” said Laguna Beach City Councilmember Mark Orgill. "By encouraging the responsible development of ADUs, we can enhance housing affordability without sacrificing community aesthetics. This bill exemplifies the balance between local decision-making and the broader goal of increasing affordable housing options for all Californians.”
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