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Council hears first reading of ADU ordinance update to align with state law; public urges rental registry
Summary
City staff presented a first reading to repeal and replace the ADU ordinance to conform with state rules and set local objective standards; residents urged a rental registry and protections to ensure ADUs serve as housing for lower‑income and older residents.
Menlo Park — City planning staff presented a first reading of a proposed ordinance to repeal and replace the city’s ADU rules to align local regulations with state law and adopt objective local standards for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
Associate planner Matt told the council the update would bring the municipal code into conformance with state ADU provisions, distinguish between state‑regulated ADUs and locally regulated ADUs, remove parking minimums and allow certain ADUs to exceed floor‑area limits under prescribed circumstances. "Estamos realizando esta actualización ahora porque nuestra ordenanza actual no cumple con la ley estatal," the planner said during the presentation.
Key elements described by staff: state‑classified ADUs are subject to state code (examples noted include independent ADUs up to 800 square feet, conversions and JADUs); local ADUs would be governed by objective standards set in the ordinance; parking minimums would be eliminated; and the staff recommendation included submitting the ordinance to California’s Department of Housing and Community Development before a second reading. Staff noted a possible timeline: second reading and potential adoption are scheduled for the council meeting on June 9, 2026, with the ordinance set to take effect 30 days after adoption.
During public comment several residents asked the council to pair the ordinance with a rental registry and antidisplacement measures so ADUs are actually available as rental housing for lower‑income and older residents. Elías Blai, a 30‑year resident of San Mateo Drive, said he supported ADUs in concept but asked the council to focus on outcomes: "Yo apoyo los ADUs eh de manera conceptual, pero... necesitamos viviendas para las personas de bajos recursos y de la tercera edad," he said.
Councilmembers questioned staff on practical implementation details, including how the 800‑square‑foot standard would apply to front‑yard ADUs and whether ADUs would be counted toward housing production targets. Staff said state ADU provisions limit local discretion in some aspects but local ADU rules can provide additional design and safety standards.
What’s next: staff expects to transmit the ordinance to HCD and return for a second reading; the council directed staff to bring back clarifying language on permitted locations and the proposed 30‑day short‑term rental minimum language the council agreed to remove from the ordinance.
