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Escalon council introduces ordinance to align ADU rules with state law
Summary
Council introduced and waived first reading of an ordinance amending local rules for accessory dwelling units to conform to several state ADU bills; staff said an urgency ordinance previously restored compliance and the Planning Commission recommended adoption.
The Escalon City Council introduced and waived the first reading of a permanent ordinance to amend Section 17.41.140 of the municipal code governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior ADUs to comply with recent state law.
City staff told the council that several state bills that took effect Jan. 1 altered local ADU standards, leaving some local code provisions inconsistent with state defaults. The council adopted an urgency ordinance on Jan. 20 to restore interim compliance; the item heard March 1 begins the standard public-hearing process to adopt a permanent ordinance.
Staff said the Planning Commission held a hearing Feb. 10 and recommended adoption, with one commission request reviewing trash-service requirements and whether units could share carts; staff confirmed the municipal code currently requires separate carts per housing unit where state law does not prohibit that requirement.
During public comment and council questions residents asked whether ADUs should count toward the city’s slow-growth ordinance; staff said ADUs are exempt from the growth-management ordinance but do count toward the state RHNA housing allocation (staff cited a RHNA number of 367 units for the coming cycle). Council members asked staff to return with an analysis linking ADU counting to the housing element and growth policy.
A councilmember moved to introduce and waive the first reading; the motion was seconded and the council approved the introduction by voice vote. Staff classified the action as statutorily exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 where applicable.
