ADU UPDATE - December 22, 2025
California's 2026 ADU laws, driven by bills like SB 543,AB 1154 and SB 1211, focus on streamlining approvals, standardizing rules, and removing barriers, including making JADU owner-occupancy optional if they have their own bathroom, exempting small ADUs/JADUs from impact fees, allowing more ADUs on multi-family sites, and simplifying coastal permits, all to make building easier and faster.
* JADU Owner-Occupancy (AB 1154): The requirement for owners to live on-site is removed for Junior ADUs (JADUs) if the unit has its own bathroom and kitchenette (not sharing facilities with the main house).
* Small ADU/JADU Fee Exemptions (SB 543): ADUs up to 750 sq. ft. and JADUs up to 500 sq. ft. are exempt from impact fees; fees
for larger units are proportional.
* Multi-Family ADUs (SB 1211): Allows up to 8 detached ADUs on multi-family lots, increasing options beyond just two.
* Parking: No replacement parking required for removed uncovered spots used for ADU construction; small units (<500 sq. ft.) don't need parking.
* Pre-Approved Plans (AB 1332): Cities must have pre-approved ADU plans by Jan 1, 2025, to speed up design review.
* Coastal Zone (SB 1077): The Coastal Commission must provide clear guidance by July 2026 to simplify ADU permits in coastal areas.
* Standardized Definitions (SB 543): Unit size must be based on interior living space, not exterior measurements, for consistency.
City of Santa Cruz Changes Rules for Accessory Dwelling Units - March 6, 2019
At their February 26 meeting, the Santa Cruz City Council adopted amendments to the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance. The changes result from the Housing Voices Report of 2017, and specifically from recommendations made in the subsequent Housing Blueprint Subcommittee Report. Changes to state law regarding ADUs are also incorporated into the approved amendments.
Approved amendments:
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Eliminate parking requirements for ADUs;
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Eliminate the requirement for a Minimum Parcel Size (ADUs can now be added to any size lot);
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Allowing ADUs by right in all Residential Zones, when built with a single family home;
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Eliminate requirements for Use Permits/Design Permits for ADUs on substandard lots;
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Allow ADUs above garages to provide setbacks of 5 feet to side and rear lot lines (previously required minimum of 10 feet from the rear);
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Allow full reconstruction of existing structures(previously limited to 50% of the structure) to qualify for the fee exemptions allowed under state law for Conversion ADUs;
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Allow expansions of Conversion ADUs of up to 120 square feet of floor area and 2 feet of height to qualify for the fee exemptions allowed under state law;
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Allow interior connections between an attached ADUs and the Primary Home on the parcel; and
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Change the definition of Owner-Occupant to include immediate family members (limited to Spouses, Siblings, Parents, and Adult Children), so a property owner can have a family member living on the property manage the property and any tenants.
For More Information on the City of Santa Cruz ADU Policies, please click here