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Planning Commission recommends ADU ordinance updates; approves 90-day primary-residence short-term rental allowance
Summary
The Santa Cruz Planning Commission on Jan. 15 unanimously recommended that City Council adopt ADU ordinance amendments aligning with state laws SB 543, AB 1154 and AB 462, and approved a friendly amendment to allow a primary residence to be short-term rented up to 90 days per year while keeping ADUs/JADUs off the short-term market.
The Santa Cruz City Planning Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 15 to recommend that City Council adopt a package of amendments to the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance to comply with recent state laws and to modify local rules on short-term rentals.
Clara Stanger, senior planner, told the commission that the updates respond to three state laws signed last year. "ADU and junior ADU size are now measured in terms of interior livable space rather than floor area," Stanger said, adding that junior ADUs would also be eligible for the same fire sprinkler and fee exceptions as ADUs. She also described a new requirement that the city provide a completeness determination for ADU and JADU permit applications and establish an appeal process.
Why it matters: The amendments align Santa Cruz’s ordinance with state law and change how ADU size limits are calculated, which can affect unit designs and, potentially, rent levels. The staff-recommended appeal…
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