Sec. 10-2.01. County electrical code adopted.
Except as hereinafter provided, Title 27, Electrical Code, of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the 2025 California Electrical Code (Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Electrical Code of the City of Lomita.
In the event of any conflict between provisions of the 2025 California Electrical Code, Title 27 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Electrical Code contained in the Lomita Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.
A copy of Title 27 of the Los Angeles County Code and the 2025 California Electrical Code have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.
Section 3. Section 10-3.01 of Title 10 of the City of Lomita Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 10-3.01. County plumbing code adopted.
Except as hereinafter provided, Title 28, Plumbing Code of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the 2025 California Plumbing Code (Part 5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Plumbing Code of the City of Lomita.
In the event of any conflict between provisions of the 2025 California Plumbing Code, Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Plumbing Code contained in the Lomita Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.
A copy of Title 28 of the Los Angeles County Code and the 2025 California Plumbing Code have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.
Section 4. Section 10-4.01 of Title 10 of the City of Lomita Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:
10-4.01. County mechanical code adopted.
Except as hereinafter provided, Title 29, Mechanical Code of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the 2025 California Mechanical Code (Part 4 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Mechanical Code of the City of Lomita.
In the event of any conflict between provisions of the 2025 California Mechanical Code, Title 29 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Mechanical Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *152
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Code contained in the Lomita Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.
A copy of Title 29 of the Los Angeles County Code and the 2025 California Mechanical Code have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.
Section 5. Section 10-7.01 of Title 10 of the City of Lomita Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:
10-7.01. County residential code adopted.
Except as hereinafter provided, Title 30, Residential Code of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the 2025 California Residential Code (Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Residential Code of the City of Lomita.
In the event of any conflict between provisions of the 2025 California Residential Code, Title 30 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Residential Code contained in the Lomita Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.
A copy of Title 30 of the Los Angeles County Code and the 2025 California Residential Code have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.
Section 6. Section 10-8.01 of Title 10 of the City of Lomita Municipal Code is amended to read as follows:
10-8.01. County green building standards adopted.
Except as hereinafter provided, Title 31, Green Building Standards Code of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Green Building Standards Code of the City of Lomita.
In the event of any conflict between provisions of the 2025 California Green Building Code, Title 31 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Green Building Standards Code contained in the Lomita Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.
A copy of Title 31 of the Los Angeles County Code and the 2025 California Green Building Code have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.
Section 7. Section 10-9.01 of Title 10 of the Lomita Municipal Code to read as follows:
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10-9.01. County existing building code adopted.
Except as hereinafter provided, Title 33, Existing Building Code of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, adopting the 2025 California Existing Building Code, is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Existing Building Code of the City of Lomita.
In the event of any conflict between provisions of the Existing Building Code, Title 33 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the Existing Building Code contained in the Lomita Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.
A copy of Title 33 of the Los Angeles County Code and the Existing Building Code have been deposited in the office of the City Clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public.
Section 8. The City Council hereby finds that the changes and modifications to the California Building Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Electrical Code, Existing Building Code, Residential Code, and Green Building Standards Code that have been enacted by this ordinance are reasonably necessary because of the City's local climate, characterized by hot, dry summers, often resulting in drought conditions, followed by strong Santa Ana winds, often resulting in hazardous fire conditions, and heavy winter rains, often resulting in expansive soil conditions; the City's geological characteristics in that the area is characterized by geological instability; and location in Southern California.
The City Council hereby finds that the modifications to the State Building Code in Title 26 of the Los Angeles County Code are reasonably necessary because of the local climatic and geological conditions indicated above.
The City Council hereby further finds that the modifications to the State Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Green Building Standards Code, Existing Building Code, and Residential Codes in Titles 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 33 of the Los Angeles County Code and Sections 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-7, 10-8, and 10-9 are administrative in nature and are necessary to allow the uniform application of the codes by procedures suited to the size and nature of the City's staff and administrative agencies by means suited to the City's experience with local climatic and geological conditions and to provide sufficient staff support for the time-consuming inspections and analysis required by the City's fire and geological hazards.
Accordingly, the City Council finds the modifications in this Ordinance to the State Building Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Residential Code, Green Building Standards Code, and Plumbing Code to be necessary for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.
Section 9. To the extent the provisions of this ordinance are substantially the same as previous provisions of the Lomita Municipal Code, these provisions shall be construed as continuations of those provisions and not as new enactments.
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Section 10. Adoption of this ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). The adoption of the proposed ordinance is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. As a purely administrative update to the City of Lomita’s administrative code, the adoption of the proposed ordinance does not have such potential.
Section 11. The provisions of the Building Code in effect prior to the effective date of this Ordinance shall continue to govern construction for projects for which plans were submitted for plan check prior to the effective date of this Ordinance, and for which the initial permit is issued not later than ninety (90) days after said effective date.
Section 12. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or any part hereof is for any reason held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance or any part thereof. The City Council of the City of Lomita hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
Section 13. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after the date of its passage; and prior to fifteen (15) days after its passage, the City Clerk shall cause a copy of this ordinance to be published in accordance with the provisions of the law. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance. The City Clerk shall file a certified copy of this ordinance with the California Building Standards Commission.
Section 14. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance. The City Clerk shall file a certified copy of this ordinance with the California Building Standards Commission.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of January 2026.
Cindy Segawa, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kathleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
City Attorney
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1 TO: City Council
FROM: Andrew Vialpando, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Adrian Fernandez, Community and Economic Development Director
MEETING DATE: January 20, 2026
SUBJECT: Extension of Urgency Ordinance No. 879 amending the Lomita Municipal Code Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units to Comply with Recent Changes in State Law
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt an urgency ordinance extending urgency Ordinance No. 879 amending Lomita Municipal Code Section 11-1.30.06 relating to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units for an additional 10 months and 15 days, declaring the urgency thereof, and finding the action to be statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resource Code Section 21080.17
BACKGROUND
At its meeting on December 16, 2025, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 879 (Attachment 2), an urgency ordinance to update to the Lomita Municipal Code regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) to comply with Assembly Bill (AB) 1154, and Senate Bill (SB) 9 and SB 543. AB 1154 narrows the requirement for owners to occupy either the JADU or the remaining portion of the main residence only when a JADU shares a bathroom with the main residence and expressly prohibits JADUs from being used as short-term rentals. SB 9 and SB 543 create a penalty for local agencies for failing to submit a copy of their ADU ordinance to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. SB 543 clarifies ADU and JADU size, impact fees, quantity of ADUs and ADU permitting process.
AB 1154, SB 9 and SB 453 took effect on January 1, 2026. For the City’s ADU ordinance to remain valid and enforceable, compliance with the new state laws is required or the City’s ADU ordinance would become null and void enabling ADU construction with limited state regulations. The approval of ADUs and JADUs based solely on these default
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. 9b
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2 statutory standards, without local regulations governing height, setback, landscape, and architectural review, among other things, would threaten the character of existing neighborhoods and negatively impact property values, personal privacy, and fire safety.
DISCUSSION
Ordinance No. 879, an urgency measure, took effect immediately upon adoption for an initial 45-day period pursuant to Government Code Section 65858, which will expire on January 30, 2026, unless extended by the City Council. Typically, an ordinance affecting planning and zoning is approved by the City Council after a planning-agency recommendation, a first reading and introduction before the City Council and then a second reading at a regular City Council meeting — with the ordinance taking effect 30 days following adoption. In this case it was necessary for the City Council to adopt Ordinance No. 879 as an urgency measure because the new ADU laws took effect on January 1, 2026, before a non-urgency adoption would take effect. The urgency ordinance will be followed at the earliest possible time by a non-urgency ordinance subject to all normal procedures.
Staff recommends that the City Council extend the ordinance for an additional 10 months and 15 days pursuant to state law.
On January 12, 2026, the Planning Commission reviewed the ADU and JADU regular ordinance to provide a recommendation to the City Council. Due to a public hearing noticing requirement that can only start after a recommendation from the Planning Commission, the City Council will have its first reading of the non-urgency ordinance on February 3, 2026. The second reading is expected to be scheduled for the February 17, 2026, City Council meeting – with the ordinance taking effect on March 17, 2026 (30 days after ordinance adoption). The proposed extension of urgency Ordinance No. 879 will allow the urgency ordinance to remain in effect after its expiration (January 30, 2026) and until the effective date (approximately March 17, 2026) of the non-urgency ordinance.
Approval of this extension requires a four-fifths vote.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Under California Public Resources Code section 21080.17, CEQA does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code, which is California’s ADU law and which also regulates JADUs, as defined by section 66313. Therefore, the adoption of the proposed ordinances is statutorily exempt from CEQA in that it implements state ADU law.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no financial implications resulting from this recommendation.
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3 VISION, MISSION, VALUES, AND STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
The City’s Vision, Mission, and Values set the standard for the organization, establish priorities, uniformity and guidelines; and provide the framework for policy decision making. The Strategic Outcomes were implemented to provide a pathway to achieving the City’s Vision. This item aligns with Strategic Outcome No. 3: Community Engagement & Communications - Building trust through open, inclusive communication.
OPTIONS
1. Approve the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Urgency Ordinance Extension
2. Urgency Ordinance and Exhibit A (Amended ADU Regulations) Approved by:
.
______________________
Andrew Vialpando
City Manager
Prepared by:
__________________________
Adrian Fernandez, Community and Economic Development Director Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *158
ORDINANCE NO.882
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 879 AMENDING LOMITA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 11-1.30.06
RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 MONTHS
AND 15 DAYS, DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF, AND FINDING
THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE
SECTION 21080.17
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA HEREBY FINDS AND ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals.
A. The City of Lomita, California is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the constitution and laws of the State of California.
B. State law authorizes cities to act by ordinance to provide for the creation and regulation of accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”) and junior accessory dwelling units (“JADUs”).
C. In recent years, the California Legislature has approved, and the Governor has signed into law, numerous bills that, among other things, amend various sections of the Government Code to impose new limits on local authority to regulate ADUs and JADUs.
D. There is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, or welfare based on the passage of bills updating state ADU law because if the City’s ordinance does not comply with this legislation by January 1, 2026 — and the City’s ADU ordinance becomes null and void — the City would thereafter be required to approve ADUs and JADUs in accordance with the few default standards that are provided in Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code, which is the state ADU law.
E. The approval of ADUs and JADUs based solely on the default statutory standards, without local regulations governing height, setback, landscape, and architectural review, among other things, would threaten the character of existing neighborhoods, and negatively impact property values, personal privacy, and fire safety. These threats to public safety, health, and welfare justify adoption of this Ordinance as an urgency ordinance to be effective immediately upon adoption by a four-fifths vote of the City Council.
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Ordinance No. 882
F. To protect the public safety, health, and welfare, the City Council may adopt this Ordinance as an urgency measure in accordance with Government Code section 36937, subdivision (b).
G. On December 16, 2025, the City Council adopted urgency Ordinance No. 879, establishing ADU and JADU regulations to take effect immediately and to remain in effect for 45 days while the non-urgency ordinance is adopted and takes effect.
H. Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65858, Ordinance No. 879 expires on January 30, 2026 unless it is extended after notice and a public hearing.
I. California Government Codes Section 65858 allows the City Council to extend the urgency ordinance for 10 months and 15 days by a four-fifths vote if the need for the urgency ordinance continues to exist.
J. For the reasons outlined below, the need for the urgency ordinance continues to exist, and Ordinance No. 879 could be extended to allow staff additional time to study, revise, and draft proposed permanent regulations.
K. In accordance with California Government Code Section 65858(d), the staff report related to this ordinance describes the measures taken to alleviate the condition that led to the adoption of Ordinance No. 879.
L. On January 8, 2026, the required public hearing notice was properly published.
Section 2. Extension of urgency Ordinance No. 879 related to ADU and JADU regulations.
In accordance with California Government Code Section 65858, and pursuant to the findings stated herein, the City Council hereby:
1. Declares that the findings and determinations in the recitals above are true and correct;
2. Finds that there exists a continuing threat to the public health, safety, and welfare requiring extension of Ordinance No. 879.
3. Finds that this Ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety as set forth herein; and
4. Declares that the temporary regulations adopted under Ordinance No. 879 are necessary for the continued preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare particularly on the character of single-family residential neighborhoods, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *160
narrow collector streets in residential neighborhoods, vehicular and pedestrian safety, onstreet parking demand and impacts, and housing affordability.
Ordinance No. 879, adopted on December 16, 2025 and set to expire on January 30, 2026, is hereby extended in full force and effect for 10 months and 15 days to and including December 16, 2026.
Section 2. Incorporation. The recitals above are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council.
Section 3. CEQA. Under California Public Resources Code section 21080.17, the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code, which is California’s ADU law and which also regulates JADUs, as defined by section 66313. Therefore, adoption of the Ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA in that it implements state ADU law.
Section 4. General Plan. The City Council hereby finds that the adoption of the urgency Ordinance is consistent with the General Plan as a matter of law under Government Code section 66314(c).
Section 5. Code Amendment. Section 11-1.30.06 of Lomita Municipal Code is hereby amended to read in its entirety as provided in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect immediately upon its adoption.
Section 7. HCD Submittal. As required by Government Code section 66326, the City Clerk is directed to submit a copy of this Ordinance to the California Department of Housing and Community Development within 60 days after adoption.
Section 8. Publication. The City Clerk directed to certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and post or publish this Ordinance as required by law.
Section 9. Custodian of Records. The custodian of records for this Ordinance is the City Clerk and the records comprising the administrative record are located at 24300 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, CA 90717.
Section 10. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity has no effect on the other provisions or applications of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this extent, the Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *161
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provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any portion thereof.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Lomita, California, at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 20th day of January 2026.
Cindy Segawa, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kathleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Trevor Rusin, City Attorney
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