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Hawaiian Gardens planning panel unanimously backs ADU ordinance update to match new state law
Summary
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council adopt a non-urgency ordinance updating municipal code section 18.90.08 so local rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs (JADUs) align with recent state bills; commissioners asked about enforcement, school-fee exemptions and staff capacity for a new 15-business-day completeness deadline.
The Hawaiian Gardens Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance updating Municipal Code section 18.90.08 to reflect recent state changes governing accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units.
The recommendation follows a staff presentation by Ryan Steger of Best Best & Krieger, who reviewed a set of bills signed this year that change how cities must process ADU and JADU applications, clarify measurement and fee rules, and tighten timelines for administrative review. The Commission adopted Resolution No. 2025-003 and found the proposed ordinance statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code section 21080.17).
Steger told commissioners the state bills introduce several concrete changes the city must adopt. He summarized AB 462 as creating a narrow exception allowing a detached ADU to receive a certificate of occupancy for the primary dwelling in circumstances where the governor has…
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