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Council introduces replacement ADU ordinance to align with state law
Summary
The council introduced Ordinance 25-481, repealing and replacing the city's ADU rules to conform with recent state laws (including SB 543), clarify measurements and JADU rules, and preserve a 30‑day minimum rental term; council voted 5-0 to introduce the ordinance for later adoption.
The Agoura Hills City Council on Nov. 12 introduced Ordinance 25‑481, a comprehensive rewrite of the city's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations designed to align local code with recent state requirements.
Planning Associate Katrina Garcia summarized the changes: the proposal distinguishes state‑protected ADUs (detached units up to 800 square feet, JADUs up to 500 square feet, certain conversions) from other ADUs and points applicants to the relevant sections of state law for protected units. Garcia said the state’s SB 543 changes how ADUs and JADUs are measured—moving from gross floor area to interior livable space—and that the city must remove discretionary review language that HCD found inconsistent with state law.
The draft ordinance preserves the city’s ability, where allowed by state law, to require architectural compatibility, front‑yard setbacks and lot‑coverage limits that do not preclude an 800‑square‑foot ADU. It also keeps the city’s 30‑day minimum rental term for ADUs by amending local short‑term rental language to maintain that restriction for both deed‑restricted JADUs and non‑deed‑restricted ADUs.
Council members discussed the limited local discretion under state law, the removal of a discretionary fire‑safety review and the balance between local character and state preemption. Council members said much of the ordinance is state‑driven but thanked staff for preserving as many local protections as possible. Mayor Pro Tem Wolf moved to introduce Ordinance 25‑481 and Council member Chris Anstead seconded; the roll call vote was 5–0.
Staff will return the ordinance for formal adoption at a subsequent meeting after the required public-notice and CEQA review steps.
