2024 Casita Coalition Bills Introduced in Sacramento


2024 Casita Coalition Bills Introduced in Sacramento

Casita Coalition is pleased to announce the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and middle housing bills we’re sponsoring and supporting this year. We extend our gratitude to the California State Senators and Assemblymembers who advocate for housing solutions. We also share our deep appreciation to our extended network of members, supporters, and ecosystem partners who have made significant contributions to identifying the necessary policies for removing barriers to broader ADU and middle housing implementation.

The 2024 bills and their impact: 

Unpermitted ADU Legalization (Carrillo) AB 2533

Status: Passed Local Government Committee with unanimous vote! In Committee on Housing and Community Development, hearing set for April 24th

AB 2533 addresses the legalization process for unpermitted Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in California. Informal ADUs bring much-needed income for struggling homeowners and provide housing for community members. Despite existing state law stipulating that ADUs meeting safety standards under the CA Housing Code cannot be denied legal status, many are still subject to costly compliance requirements and fees. This bill specifies standards for safety assessments, reduces fees and charges for homeowners with limited resources, and mandates cities to provide checklists of standards for compliance and information on third-party confidential pre-application inspections.

The broader housing impact:  AB 2533 will contribute to broader housing accessibility and affordability in California by preserving naturally occurring affordable housing options via ADUs,  ensuring tenant safety, and providing a practical path to legalization for hundreds of thousands of unpermitted ADUs. 

Multifamily ADUs (Skinner) SB 1211

Status: Passed Senate Local Government Committee

Milestones: Passed Senate House and Local Government Committees

SB 1211 improves flexibility for ADU type and location of ADUs on multifamily properties so the existing allowances could be workable for more properties. While current law allows for 2 detached ADUs and up to 25% of the unit count to be added as interior conversions of non-habitable space, this bill would clarify that both covered and uncovered parking can be demolished to create ADUs without replacement parking, and allow the total site cap to be allocated where space is available, so more detached ADUs could be placed in underutilized areas such as parking or landscaping areas, or in conversions of detached covered parking.

The broader housing impact: SB 1211 offers greater flexibility for detached ADUs homes, unlocking their potential in underutilized areas, and also enables opportunities for lower-cost housing options, such as manufactured homes to be added to multifamily complexes owned by nonprofit housing developers.

ADUs in the Coastal Zone (Blakespear) SB 1077

Status: Hearing April 29, Senate Appropriations

SB 1077 creates exemptions from Coastal Development Permit (CDP) requirements for ADUs and JADUs in the Coastal Zone in specified areas that do not threaten natural resources. With so many California communities completely or largely within the Coastal Zone, this bill would extend access to ADU benefits to homeowners long excluded by the higher cost and unpredictable outcomes of CDPs. Additionally, SB 1077 would increase the very small amount of available long-term rental homes in areas where costly single family homes and vacation rentals outnumber affordable rental options.

The broader housing impact: SB 1077 would facilitate a much-needed pipeline of rental ADU homes that are more affordable to lower-income locals in various stages of life and to the growing number of coastal zone workers and their families at risk of displacement. 

We need your support

Throughout the legislative season, there are many ways you can support these policies coming to fruition:

  • Submit a support letter and help get these bills passed by accessing letter templates and instructions on our Casita-Supported Bills .

  • Sign up for our newsletter and follow @CasitaCoalition social media to ensure you are apprised of the latest news,  policy updates, and calls to action

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