Shasta County staff are asking supervisors to hold a public hearing and adopt Zone Amendment 25-0003, a rewrite of the county’s accessory dwelling unit rules that would repeal and replace Section 17.88.132 of the county code.
In the June 8 staff report, Resource Management said the existing ADU ordinance was adopted in 2017, but state law has since changed and the county’s Housing Element now calls for the ordinance to be updated under Program H3-G, item D. The report says the county is trying to bring local standards into line with current state ADU law while keeping policies staff considers locally appropriate.
Among the changes described in the report are allowing manufactured homes to exceed detached ADU size requirements, clarifying how accessory floor area can be used in existing and proposed buildings, removing a requirement that detached ADUs sit in front of the main house and eliminating the rule that an ADU must share the same driveway as the primary dwelling. The proposal also would clarify when some local development standards can be waived through an administrative permit.
The staff report says the update would keep some existing county policies, while directly incorporating state requirements for detached, attached, converted and junior accessory dwelling units. It also says the ordinance would repeal and replace the current ADU section rather than amend it piecemeal.
The report says the change is consistent with the county’s general plan because it adds housing options without substantially changing neighborhood character. It also says the proposal is exempt from CEQA under several state guidelines and statutory provisions. Staff said no public comments had been received and warned that noncompliance with state law could expose the county to fines and legal action.
The report lists County Counsel and the County Administrative Office as having reviewed the recommendation.
