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City council introduces zoning changes to comply with new state ADU laws
Summary
Saint Helena moved to introduce and waive first reading of a municipal code amendment aligning the city's ADU regulations with recent state laws AB 2533 and SB 1211; council found the ordinance statutorily exempt from CEQA and approved the introduction/waive motion on a roll‑call vote.
At a public hearing on April 22, the Saint Helena City Council opened and closed comment and voted to introduce and waive the first reading of a zoning ordinance amendment to bring the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules into compliance with recently enacted state legislation.
Senior planner and staff presented the changes required by AB 2533 and SB 1211, which take effect in January 2025 and amend state ADU rules on legalization of unpermitted ADUs/JADUs, replacement parking, the definition of livable space, and the number of detached ADUs allowed on some multifamily lots. Staff summarized key local code edits: updated definitions (including livable space), clarified setbacks and objective design standards, adjusted parking replacement rules, and revised nonconforming/unpermitted structure provisions consistent with the new statutes. Staff recommended introduction, waiver of first reading and a finding of statutory exemption from CEQA under the Public Resources Code exemption noted in the staff report.
The council recessed the public hearing after brief comment (one resident said ADUs near his property are used only occasionally and opposed expanded ADU allowances). After discussion clarifying that state law preempts local conflict and that single‑family and multifamily properties have different ADU allowances, the council voted to introduce and waive first reading and adopt the zoning amendment (Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2025‑1) and found the ordinance statutorily exempt from CEQA.
Vote: motion to introduce and waive first reading—Councilmember Spatarotto: yes; Councilmember Barrick: yes; Vice Mayor Deasy: yes; Mayor Doreen: yes. No amendments were made at the hearing. The ordinance moves forward to the next formal step in the legislative process.
