City Council Meeting
July 1, 2025
ZCA 2025-01
ADU & JADU
Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance No. O-2025-05, amending development standards and regulatory requirements in Title 23 (“Zoning”) of the Placentia Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units to be in compliance with State law (Zoning Code Amendment No.
ZCA 2025-01)
Recommendation
Recommended Action:It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Open the Public Hearing concerning Zoning Code Amendment No. 2025-01 and Ordinance No. O-2025-05; and,
2. Receive the Staff Report, consider all Public Testimony, ask any questions of Staff; and,
3. Close the Public Hearing; and,
4.Find that adoption of Zoning Code Amendment No. 2025-01 is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h) and is categorically exempt under the common sense exemption of CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3); and,
5.Waive full reading, by title only, and introduce for first reading, Ordinance No. O-2025- 05, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Placentia, California amending Chapter 23.73 of the Placentia Municipal Code relating to Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units in accordance with State law.
Proposed Ordinance
The proposed Zoning Code Amendment is intended to comply with state laws regarding ADU’s and JADU’s. The key changes in the proposed ordinance are as follows:
•Denial of an application must occur within 60 days of complete application with a detailed list of the deficiencies.
•If an ADU is constructed on an uncovered parking space, can no longer require replacement parking.
•ADU’s can be built in the front set back.
•Height of an ADU attached to the primary dwelling can be up to 25 feet, or the height limitation associated with the primary dwelling, whichever is lower. •A detached ADU can be up to 18 feet if it is within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high-quality corridor.
Proposed Ordinance
•For unpermitted structures built prior to January 1, 2020, the city cannot deny a permit unless the structure is deemed substandard.
•JADU’s are now permitted in an attached garage.
•For multi-family properties, up to 8 detached ADU’s can be constructed on existing multi-family projects. However, the number of detached ADU’s cannot exceed the number of existing multi-family units. For proposed multi-family projects, only two detached ADU’s are allowed.
Previous Action
•Planning Commission recommended approval
of ZCA 2025-01
•Staff recommends that the City Council approve
Zoning Code Amendment (ZCA) No. 2025-01
and introduce Ordinance No. O-2025-05 for first
reading.
Next Steps
Questions?