Council introduces revised ADU rules to align with state requirements and allow new unit types

The Ukiah City Council on Aug. 20 introduced by title an ordinance amending the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior ADU regulations to ensure compliance with recent state law changes and with guidance from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Jesse Davis, chief planning manager, explained the update stems from state changes enacted after Ukiah’s September 2024 ordinance. State staff reviewed the 2024 amendments and identified elements that were not fully consistent with recently enacted state law, including provisions implementing what staff referred to as “66,323 units” and other clarifications requested by HCD. Davis told the council HCD has reviewed the revised draft and earlier in the week informed staff that the ordinance, as redrafted, meets the state’s expectations.

Davis reviewed several details in the staff presentation: junior ADUs (JADUs) remain limited to interior conversions and attached garage spaces, and are constrained by state rules (the council asked for confirmation that JADUs must be under 500 square feet). Davis confirmed JADUs remain capped at under 500 square feet and must be within the existing single‑family dwelling or its attached garage. He also summarized changes to local parking exemptions and removal of a director’s determination that staff previously included to reconcile conflicts between local and state rules. The update incorporates AB 2533 provisions allowing certain pre‑2020 ADUs to be legalized through a standardized checklist, and clarifies parking and deed‑restriction language.

Davis emphasized that state law now allows a broader mix of unit types on single‑family parcels in some circumstances (the presentation referenced “66,323 units” in describing a state category that can permit multiple units on some parcels), and noted restrictions remain—particularly limits on short‑term rental use and size limits such as newly detached ADUs typically limited to 800 square feet under the state rules described in the presentation.

After the presentation the council held a public hearing; staff reported no public presence online or in the room for this item. A council member moved to introduce the ordinance by title only; the motion passed on roll call. Staff will return with final adoption and will transmit the ordinance to HCD after adoption, per the state review process.