Newsom Signs Laws To Streamline Housing

The California housing industry will gain some clarity on what to expect during the permitting and construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) with a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 10.

Recent laws around ADUs, also known as backyard cottages or casitas, have generated some confusion and conflicts between local agencies and the state as cities and counties strive to interpret how to apply the laws to permitting timelines and other aspects of the homebuilding process.

Proposed by Tri-Valley Senator Jerry McNerney, Senate Bill (SB) 543 codifies several guidelines around ADUs from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) into law. Among these, local governments now have 15 days to conduct an initial review of ADU and junior ADU permit applications. The permitting guidelines for ADUs also apply to junior ADUs.

ADUs offer independent homes complete with spaces for cooking, eating, sleeping and other activities on the same property as an existing primary home. Junior ADUs are accessory apartments contained within a main house.

“California needs to build housing to help make our state more affordable,” McNerney said in a statement. “And one of the most effective ways to address our housing affordability crisis is to accelerate the construction of low-cost housing, like ADUs and junior ADUs. Gov. Newsom’s signing of SB 543 will make it easier to build ADUs and junior ADUs and help California meet its goal of building over 2.5 million homes by 2031.”

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