TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Kelvin Parker, Community Development Director
DATE:February 24, 2026
SUBJECT: Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations Update (MCA-2025-70003) RECOMMENDATION:
1. Find that the update of the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 which specifically finds that CEQA does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance by a city to implement the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 66314) or Article 3 (commencing with Section 66333) of Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code.
2. Read in title only, further reading be waived, and if no objection, introduce an ordinance approving Municipal Code Amendment 2025-70003 amending Title 9, Chapter 4 of the Thousand Oaks Municipal Code (TOMC).
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Staff time to prepare and process the Municipal Code Amendment (MCA) and the cost of providing public hearing notices is included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
City Council last updated the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance on February 25, 2025. On March 5, 2025, the City transmitted this updated ADU ordinance to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review as required by California Government Code Section 66326. On September 23, 2025, HCD issued written findings determining that the City’s ordinance was inconsistent with State ADU law. In October 2025, the Governor of California signed new legislation further amending the State ADU law. On December 15, 2025, City staff met with HCD to review HCD’s findings, and applicable statutory changes. Amendments to the City’s ADU Ordinance are
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required to address comments from HCD and bring the TOMC into compliance with new state laws now in effect.
These mandatory updates have been incorporated into the proposed ordinance, which was reviewed and recommended for adoption by the Planning Commission.
Further details are provided in the Planning Commission staff report in Attachment #1.
Planning Commission
The MCA for the ADU ordinance update was presented to the Planning Commission on January 26, 2026, for public hearing, review, and recommendation. The staff report for the Planning Commission, provided a comprehensive analysis of the proposed updates and statutory changes to the City’s ADU regulations.
Two supplemental memoranda were provided to the Planning Commission, which included additional clarifying and technical revisions to the proposed ordinance to ensure consistency with recently enacted State law and to improve code organization and clarity.
Following the publication of the Planning Commission Notice of Hearing, one public comment opposing the amendment was received. After deliberation, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the ordinance, including the revisions identified in the supplemental memoranda, as recommended by staff.
No additional changes were made during the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 4–0, with one Commissioner absent.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The proposed ordinance (Attachment #2) updates the City’s ADU and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) regulations to ensure consistency with current State law and HCD guidance. The amendments incorporate new and clarified statutory requirements adopted since the City’s February 2025 ADU ordinance update and address HCD findings.
In addition to required State law updates, the proposed amendments include clarifying, organizational, and technical clarifications intended to improve code readability, internal consistency, and enforceability. The amendments preserve objective development standards allowed under State law while removing or revising provisions that could be interpreted as nonobjective or procedurally inconsistent with statutory requirements.
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Adoption of the ordinance is necessary to maintain compliance with State ADU and JADU law, ensure continuity in the ministerial processing of ADU and JADU applications, and avoid potential nullification of the City’s ADU regulations. The City Council’s action represents the final step in the adoption process following Planning Commission review and recommendation.
General Plan Consistency
The City’s General Plan includes goals and policies to guide future development, as follows:
Housing Element Goal 1: Provide a wide range of housing opportunities for persons of all income levels.
Land Use Element Goal 3: Promote diversity of housing types for Thousand Oaks residents through all stages of life.
The adoption and implementation of the proposed MCA is consistent with the City’s General Plan by allowing for the development of ADUs within single-family and multi-family residential zones in a manner consistent with adopted development standards and applicable state law.
Community Outreach
Notification for this hearing and the Planning Commission hearing was completed in compliance with the TOMC and the Government Code.
Environmental Review
The project has been determined to be exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 which specifically finds that CEQA does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance relating to accessory dwelling units by a city to implement the provisions of Article 2 (commencing with Section 66314) or Article 3 (commencing with Section 66333) of Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
A. Create a more equitable, accessible, safe, welcoming, and inclusive government and community regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and ADU Regulations Update (MCA-2025-70003)
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expression, age, language, education, and/or socio-economic status.
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
PREPARED BY: Matthew Mateo, Community Development Technician I Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Planning Commission Packet of January 26, 2026 Attachment #2 – Municipal Code Amendment Ordinance
cdd:660-21\mm\H:\COMMON\City Council\CC Agenda Items\2026\02242026\ADU Ord Update MCA-2025-70003\Staff Report.docx