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Cupertino council advances ADU ordinance revisions in first reading after lengthy debate
Summary
After extended debate and public input, the City Council held a first reading of ordinance updates to align Cupertino’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules with state law and recent HCD guidance; council members asked staff to return with additional legal clarifications ahead of final adoption.
The Cupertino City Council conducted a first reading on Sept. 3 of an ordinance updating the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules to conform to recent state law changes and feedback from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Staff said the city’s 2023 ADU ordinance became out of date after several state bills and reorganizations of government code sections went into effect in 2024–2025. Senior planner John Martier told the council the draft ordinance removes an earlier 1,200‑square‑foot cap on detached multifamily ADUs (HCD objected to that limit), revises how duplexes are treated under the city code, and clarifies rules on parking, permits and design standards for non‑streamlined ADUs.
The staff presentation noted two state statutes (cited in HCD’s April letter) that prompted the amendments and…
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