Council adopts urgency ordinance, introduces revised ADU rules aligning local code with state law

Laguna Beach City Council on March 11 introduced a revised zoning ordinance and adopted an urgency ordinance to bring the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior ADU regulations into alignment with changes in state law that took effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Planning staff prepared a replacement of Municipal Code chapter 25.17 that reflects state ADU provisions and council guidance. Key changes in the draft ordinance that staff presented include: a revised approach to front‑yard setback requirements for ADUs (staff proposed reducing the requirement from a uniform 20 feet to 10 feet in many cases); clarification that a shared single utility connection is acceptable for an ADU except for a new single‑family dwelling; and elimination of a proposed annual rent‑reporting requirement, replaced by city‑initiated requests for rent information when the unit is offered for rent.

Staff and council considered additional suggestions from the public and the housing committee. Council asked staff to retain objective standards and to avoid waiver processes likely to create disputes between neighbors; staff said some state standards are legally required and that others (for example, a waiver process for sight‑line rules) could be legally problematic. Planning staff advised that coastal development permit entitlements would still govern coastal setbacks in applicable cases.

The council waived full reading, introduced the ordinance for first reading, and adopted the urgency ordinance; council found the actions not subject to CEQA. The decisions allow staff to process ADU applications under the updated rules while staff finalizes the code replacement.

Ending: The ordinance update responds to state law changes and council direction; staff will finalize the code language, post the revised rules and continue outreach to applicants and permit applicants.