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Commission forwards ADU code update to Council to align with new state law

City of San Bernardino Planning Commission · December 12, 2025

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Summary

The commission recommended forwarding development-code amendments to conform local accessory‑dwelling‑unit rules to recent state changes (Assembly Bill 1154 and Senate Bill 543), including owner‑occupancy and fee clarifications and a prohibition on using JADUs as short‑term rentals.

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to forward a development-code amendment updating the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations so local rules comply with two recently enacted state laws.

Staff explained the changes required by Assembly Bill 1154 and Senate Bill 543: owner‑occupancy rules for junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) were relaxed when a JADU is fully independent, JADUs are now expressly prohibited from being used as short‑term rentals (less than 30 days), interior livable‑space definitions were clarified and certain small ADUs (under 500 sq ft) may be exempt from specified school fees. City staff said they had also adopted an urgency ordinance to give the city time to bring the regular ordinance back into full compliance before the state deadline.

The commission had no substantive questions and adopted staff’s recommendation (Resolution No. 2025‑060) to forward the amendments to the City Council for final adoption and to find the project CEQA‑exempt under the statutory exemptions noted in the staff report (public resources code section 21,080.17 and related CEQA citations).

Staff said the changes are largely technical and intended to preserve the city’s locally tailored ADU ordinance while meeting state compliance deadlines.