2024 Casita Coalition Bills


Update- All bills are now signed into law by the Governor!

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

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

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

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. AMENDED: The bill was amended during the legislative process and in its current form has passed both houses. The bill now requires the California Coastal Commission to conduct a hearing and develop a guidance document for local jurisdictions to use in drafting the ADU elements of their Local Coastal Plan. Importantly, it requires the coastal commission to work with HCD to develop that guidance document, improving inter-agency coordination on ADU policy.

The broader housing impact: SB 1077 is a strong step forward to creating a path for a more streamlined process for ADUs in the coastal zone.

 

Thank you for your support

We appreciate everyone who helped get these bills over the line with your letters, petition signatures and networking. Stay in the loop as we work on implementation of these new laws!

  • 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

  • Share our blog and updates widely! We are stronger together

  • Join us as a business member or Friend of Casita to support our work

Casita Coalition