Second Units and Junior Second Units
Resources for Homeowners
Resources for homeowners, including ADU regulations organized by city, can be found here (new laws were recently passed and updates will be coming soon). The San Mateo County Second Unit Online Center can be found at SecondUnitCenterSMC.org. Also, check out Symbium BUILD, which allows you to see if your property is eligible for an ADU.
2020 ADU Laws
There are two bills that attempt to clean up some of the 2019 legislation (AB 953 and SB 773). As of 2/6, the changes clarify that (1) If a jurisdiction has not acted on a completed application in 60 days it is deemed approved and (2) A homeowner can have both an ADU and a JADU under the special (e) provisions. It also a fixes a typo that said jurisdictions "may shall" approve multifamily ADUs, clarifying that jurisdictions shall approve them. Finally, it clarifies that the ADU rules are of statewid concern. All of the other rules are unchanged.
Build and Fire Codes and Title 24
- Title 24 Webinar 3/6
- Slides and Handout
- Webinar recording from Title 24 Presentation
- Handout only from Title 24 Presentation
- Building and Fire Codes Webinar 4/23/20
- Fire Marshall's Bulletin - 2017
2019 ADU Laws
HCD questions: adu@hcd.ca.gov
Rocklin ADU Ordinance - No HCD review yet
ADU Questions - Round 1 - Updated 1/28/2020 with HCD comments
ADU Questions - Round 2 - No HCD comments yet
2019 ADU New Laws Summary (January 23, 2020) An Overview of the ADU bills signed into law, in effect January 1, 2020
11/21/2018 APA Webinar - Contact Josh
Half Moon Bay Draft Ordinance (As of December 13, 2019) Check with City for latest version
Effective Provisions of 2019 ADU laws
2018 ADU Laws
Goldfarb and Lipman Webinar Slides and Webinar
HCD Guidance: Cover Letter and Memo
League of Cities Guidance Memo
Sample Ordinances
- Corte Madera Staff Report and Ordinance - This is the report for Planning Commission. The draft for City Council will be posted around 11/14
- Brisbane - Planning Commission approved draft
- Cupertino - Staff report and proposed ordinance
- Hillsborough - Staff report and proposed ordinance
Second Unit Resources
Affordability of ADUs in the Bay Area, Draft Report - 8 page report presents research on actual rental rates of ADUs in the Bay Area. The report can be used in setting assumptions of affordability of your jurisdictions ADUs for the RHNA 6 Housing Element. Prepared by UC Berkeley and ABAG, 2021
Best Practices for Second Units San Mateo County FAQ Sheet
Amnesty Program for Second Units FAQ Sheet
Portola Valley Second Unit Manual
Accessory Dwellings - a one-stop source on ADUs
HCD Bulletin on building code changes
Junior Second Unit Resources
Lilypad Homes: Lilypad Homes and City of Novato
Junior Second Units Fact Sheet PDF + Editable File