Bills are now advancing to the second house, where they will be heard in their policy committees. The next key legislative deadline is July 2, the last day for bills to pass California policy committees.

Sponsored bills with a set committee hearing date:

• SB 1117 (Cervantes): Removes the financial penalty many jurisdictions impose on ADUs over 750 sq ft, lowering the fees to build them.
○ Passed assembly. Pending Senate

• AB 956 (Quirk-Silva): Allows homeowners to build up to two detached ADUs on a single-family lot. If jurisdiction opts. Pending Senate

• SB 1116 (Caballero): Makes improvements to state housing law to lower costs and speed construction of smaller, lower-cost starter homes.
○ Assembly Housing Committee - June 24th - Passed. Pending Senate

Remaining bills awaiting a hearing date:

• SB 1014 (Grayson): Requires cities to disclose all infrastructure requirements, sidewalks, sewers, etc. within 30 days of a housing application, and prohibits adding new requirements after permit application.

• AB 1070 (Ward): Directs state agencies to study whether applying the residential building code to small multi-family projects could accelerate construction of "missing middle" housing. - In committee

California AB 956 is a housing bill introduced by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva that empowers homeowners by requiring local agencies to ministerially approve up to two detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on single-family lots. It removes prior restrictions to help address the state's housing shortage. The legislation expands on existing ADU rules by ensuring property owners have the right to build more density.

AB 2005 would eliminate the owner-occupancy requirement that has made it so needlessly difficult to use SB 9 to undertake a lot split and create a homeownership unit. It passed out of Senate Local Government.



California ADU Height Guide

California's ADU law allows a detached ADU to go up to 18 feet in height if the property is within a half mile of a major transit stop. But there's a second condition layered on top of that. You can add two more feet if the roof pitch of the ADU matches the roof pitch of the primary structure.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. For the most current California ADU legislation, visit the California Legislative Information website and confirm local requirements with your planning department before beginning your project. You may also contact the Perpetual Homes ADU team for a consultation.