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Baldwin Park commission recommends council adopt ADU ordinance changes to align local code with new state law
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended City Council approval of AZC 25‑01, a full rewrite of Chapter 153 Part 11 to align Baldwin Park’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior ADU rules with recent state bills; staff proposed three local refinements including matching attached‑ADU heights to the primary home and eliminating parking requirements citywide for ADUs.
The Baldwin Park Planning Commission on March 25 voted unanimously to adopt Resolution PC 2602 recommending that the City Council approve AZC 25‑01, a zoning text amendment to Chapter 153, Part 11 of the Baldwin Park Municipal Code that rewrites local accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior ADU (JADU) rules to reflect changes in state law.
Planning Division staff told the commission the draft ordinance was revised to respond to multiple state bills, including AB 2521, AB 2533, AB 1154, SB 897, SB 1211 and SB 543, which together loosen certain height, unit‑count and processing constraints on ADUs and streamline legalization of unpermitted units. Staff said they consulted with the city’s legal counsel Jones Mayer and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) while drafting the changes.
Staff highlighted three local refinements in the draft ordinance that go beyond minimum state requirements: allowing an attached ADU to match the height of the primary home (rather than a 25‑foot cap for attached units), eliminating citywide ADU parking standards on the basis that no city lots fall outside the public‑transit buffer, and removing the replacement‑parking requirement for JADUs created through garage conversions because the replacement requirement can negate cost savings and act as a development barrier.
Staff said the amendment is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code section 21080.17 because it implements state ADU law (Government Code section 66310). Notices were published and staff reported one written comment in support from the California Housing Defense Fund.
Commission discussion framed the ordinance as a tool to add housing options and support intergenerational households; one commissioner noted the local housing crisis and the utility of encouraging ADUs for seniors to age in place. There were no public speakers during the hearing. Following a motion and second, the commission recommended approval by a unanimous roll call vote (Chair Escobosa, Vice Chair Miranda De Zip, Commissioner Rodriguez, Commissioner Peña — all yes; Commissioner Arias absent).
The Planning Commission’s action forwards AZC 25‑01 to City Council for final consideration. If the council adopts the draft language recommended by staff, the city’s ADU standards will be updated to align with recent state law while retaining the three local adjustments noted by staff.
