Avalon planning staff updates ADU rules to match state law; commission backs recommendation

Planning staff told the Avalon Planning Commission that two zoning-text amendments would bring the city's code into alignment with state ADU law and the housing element adopted in 2022. The proposed ADU changes clarify how to measure ADU height, restate state limits on the number of ADUs allowed on single‑family and multifamily properties, and introduce objective design standards such as window and door placement and roof‑slope requirements.

"Part of which is production of housing units as allocated as part of their regional housing needs assessment," staff said, adding the amendments are the first in a series to implement the housing element. Staff noted the city may not use other local development standards to force ADUs below statutory minimums: "we cannot require anyone to go smaller than 800 square feet unless they're not meeting building code requirements," staff said, describing statutory size floors (800 sq ft for a one‑bedroom ADU, 1,000 sq ft for two or more bedrooms; a JADU maximum of 500 sq ft).

The staff presentation highlighted that ADU construction remains contingent on utility availability: new units would still require appropriate water allocation from Southern California Edison. Staff also proposed reducing some landscaping requirements, citing water allocation constraints and potential conflicts with fire‑safety access.

Commissioners asked multiple clarifying questions about how city FAR, setbacks and a 50%-of-primary-dwelling cap for attached ADUs layer with state size rules. Staff said the rules are "layered" and can make reading the code dense, but that the amendments do not change the substantive size caps.

The commission voted to forward the draft resolution to city council with its recommended changes and additional direction regarding parking exemptions discussed separately.