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Fontana council adopts ADU updates to align city code with new state laws
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance No. 1983 to update local accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior ADU rules to comply with recent state bills, including 15-day plan-review timelines, parking exceptions for small ADUs and clarifications on owner-occupancy and short-term rental restrictions.
The Fontana City Council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 1983, a permanent update to the city's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior ADU code to reflect state law changes that took effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Cecily, the city's associate planner, told the council that AB 462, AB 1154 and SB 543 required local code changes and that staff had moved the prior urgency ordinance into a permanent ordinance.
She told the council the most notable requirements include completing plan reviews within 15 days of submittal and keeping no parking requirement for ADUs 500 square feet and smaller (previously applied to JADUs only). She also summarized changes to owner-occupancy rules for JADUs and reiterated the state's long-standing prohibition on short-term rentals in JADUs.
Council member John Roberts moved to adopt the permanent ordinance; the motion passed with Council member Sandoval recorded as a nay. The ordinance brings local rules into alignment with state code and replaces the temporary urgency ordinance that had been adopted earlier to avoid a lapse in compliance on Jan. 1.
The council's action codifies state-mandated plan-review timelines and removes certain local parking requirements for small ADUs; staff said the changes are meant to speed approvals and reduce barriers to small-unit production while following state limits on owner-occupancy and rental restrictions.
Implementation and operational details are to be folded into the city's planning and building processes and staff will monitor plan-review timelines to meet the 15-day standard.
Vote: motion adopted; Sandoval recorded a no vote in the roll call.
