Stay Up to Date on California's 2026 ADU Laws

California’s 2026 ADU laws continue to expand housing flexibility, making it easier for homeowners and multifamily property owners to add accessory dwelling units with fewer barriers, clearer rules, and more predictable outcomes. These updates support multigenerational living, long-term affordability, and smarter use of existing residential property across California.



New 2026 California ADU Laws

Establish the California Department of Housing and Community Development to as the enforcement authority on ADU rules, clarify some rules and giving HCD a sledgehammer to stop anti-housing rules established by local municipalities!

• SB 9 (2025) - HCD enforcement. Gives HCD additionally enforcement over local ADU ordinances. If municipalities do not submit the ordinances to HCD within 60 days, or don’t respond to HCD comments within 30 days, then the municipality may NOT enforce their local ADU rules and must revert to State standards.

• AB 1208 – Mandatory 10-day inspection guidelines for municipalities. Introduces mandatory fines when HCD or the Attorney General has wanted the agency before. $50,000 fines on the municipality per violation. Repeat violations can lead to mandatory 5x the fine.

• AB 35 – establishes strict timelines and a private plan-check option for small residential projects. If the municipality estimates they cannot review the submitted plans within 30 days, you can hire a private professional provide who is certified as a residential plans examiner. The provider checks the plans and submits a report to the municipality. The municipality has 10 days to act or it is automatically deemed compliant and the permit deemed approved. You can also self-certify, but then you’re liable.
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•  AB 1154 – removes owner occupancy requirement for JADUs. For homeowners who already have a JADU and have a lien on title, you can work with the County Recorder to remove that from the title. The bill also sets a minimum 30-day rental term for JADUs – no AirBnBing of ADUs!

• SB 543 - ADU/JADU Parity. This bill clarifies and outlaws local anti-ADU rules and gives HCD more enforcement authority, especially over JADUs. Now local municipalities may not charge Impact Fees or School Fees for JADUs. Most important, the bills codifies HCD’s interpretation of State law that allows for 1 detached ADU, 1 interior conversion and 1 JADU at every single-family zoned property, regardless of occupancy. In short, now even rental homes may have up to 4 total units regardless of location.

•  AB 1294 - requires HCD to create a standard permit application that every city and county must accept. This will help builders standardize the process, decrease waiting periods and allow HCD to track violations.

• AB 920 – Mandates a centralized portal for submitting housing permits at the municipality. AB 609 – Exempts housing projects located in urban areas from environmental review.

• AB 357 – Exempts student and faculty housing from Coastal Commission review. This is hopefully the beginning of eroding the Coastal Commission’s opposition to housing.

• AB 1061 – Makes it easier to build housing in Historic districts.

• SB 315 - Prohibits municipalities from overcharging on Park Fees.

• AB 782 – Removes double-bonding requirements for developers of residential developments.

• AB 818 – Fast-tracks the rebuilding of housing after a disaster, with stricter timeframes and processes. This should help the rebuilding process after the Los Angeles Fires. (proud to have been a co-writer on this!)

Please email, call, or visit our website for more details:

Email: perpetualhomesadu@gmail.com 

Phone: +1 (925) 980-2351 

ADU Catalog: build.perpetualhomesadu.com

Dealer’s License #: 1557865