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Assembly bill would remove owner‑occupancy requirement for some junior ADUs, prompting split reaction
Summary
AB 11 54 would eliminate the owner‑occupancy requirement for junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) that have separate bathrooms, allowing homeowners to rent both main residence and JADU; advocates cite equity and housing supply gains, while some ADU program implementers urged technical revisions to protect fire and safety standards.
Assemblymember presented AB 11 54 as a measure to ‘‘create parity between small ADUs and JDUs’’ by removing the owner‑occupancy requirement for junior ADUs that have their own bathrooms. Supporters said the change would make it easier for homeowners to generate rental income, house multigenerational families, and expand affordable options in existing neighborhoods.
Support: UnidosUS, California YIMBY and multiple housing advocates testified in support, arguing the change would help Latino and other lower‑income households build wealth and increase homeownership pathways. Witnesses pointed to large increases in ADU production since 2016 and said JADUs are an efficient way to add smaller, generally affordable units.
Opposition and technical concerns: Hello Housing, which helps jurisdictions and owners develop ADUs, urged amendments and opposed the bill unless revisions were made. Their testimony noted a set of technical safety and code issues arising from prior statutory changes (for example, the 2022 Warkowski amendments that removed the requirement for an interior connecting door). Hello Housing recommended that if an interior door is not retained, fire separation must be required; they also recommended retaining owner occupancy when the interior door remains in place because those JADUs do not require fire separation and were traditionally limited by interior connection.
Committee action: The committee debated balancing owner‑occupancy restrictions, practical enforcement, and program integrity. After discussion and assurances from the author about intent and implementation, the committee passed AB 11 54 to Appropriations with a unanimous recorded vote in committee summary.
