East Bay for Everyone strongly supports the following five accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bills currently under consideration by the California State Legislature.
Never heard of an ADU or want to learn more about them? Check out the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s overview page for background, comprehensive info, and resources.
The bills – AB 68, 587, 670, and 881, and SB 13 – together ensure that building an ADU isn’t synonymous with endless permitting or arcane regulations. Removing unnecessary barriers to ADU construction or conversion allows for natural and unobtrusive density in our neighborhoods and a varied housing stock.
ADUs are often ideal for aging family members who wish to age in place, for young adults trying to move out of their childhood home, or for those who need or simply prefer a smaller, and often less expensive, living space. We believe that everyone, no matter their situation, deserves a stable, safe, and affordable place to call home.
Here is a brief summary of each bill we are supporting:
AB 68: Further eases local barriers to the construction of ADUs by various streamlining measures, including the further facilitation of junior ADUs or third units, and ADUs on the site of multifamily housing.
AB 587: Creates a small exemption for property-owning 501(c)(3) housing nonprofits to split a new ADU into a small secondary lot, creating two low-income, tenancy-in-common lots with deed restrictions so that the property remains affordable long-term.
AB 670: Prevents common interest developments (CIDs, also known as homeowner associations, covering roughly 6 million homes in California) from barring ADUs outright, while still allowing CIDs to enact reasonable conditions for construction.
AB 881: Removes the ability for cities to require owner-occupancy of ADUs, but restores that ability in 2025 unless the Legislature extends. Makes other minor clarifying amendments to ADU law.
SB 13: Eases various local barriers to the construction of ADUs, including limitations to impact fees and owner-occupancy requirements.
East Bay for Everyone looks forward to seeing these bills through the Legislature as we continue to promote thoughtful solutions to the housing crisis and advocate for resilient, dense communities.
Special thank you to East Bay for Everyone organizers and policy experts John Minot and Dylan Casey for assessing bill language, impact, and scope.