The Los Alamitos Planning Commission voted Sept. 24 to recommend that the City Council adopt revisions to the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance so local rules align with recent state law and guidance from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Commissioners heard a staff presentation explaining the changes and then approved Resolution No. 2025-05, forwarding the ordinance update to the council for final action.

The staff presentation said the changes implement recent state legislation and HCD guidance and clarified several local rules. "As of right now, the city is obligated to approve an ADU application through a ministerial process within 60 days of receiving a complete application," the staff presenter said. The update also codifies that ADUs may be created inside detached garages and clarifies how many ADUs are permitted on multifamily lots.

Key technical points summarized by staff include: existing multifamily developments must allow up to eight detached ADUs on a lot; proposed multifamily developments must allow two detached ADUs; demolition of an uncovered parking space for an ADU generally does not require replacement parking; and, in many cases under the updated state law, no off-street parking is required for an ADU. Staff noted junior ADUs (JADUs) remain a distinct subcategory and that state guidance restricts some local restrictions on short-term rental limits for JADUs.

Commissioners and members of the public asked questions about local impacts. Staff reported the city receives "probably three or four a month" ADU permit applications currently and explained the ministerial timeline for plan review and permits: initial plan check timelines cited by staff were 10 business days for code conformity and an additional five business days for subsequent corrections; building permits typically expire after 180 days unless extended.

Staff cautioned that many of the changes reflect state policy shifts that limit local discretion. "We largely mirror and directly track the state law," the presenter said, adding the city’s local code is arranged to help applicants understand requirements.

The commission opened the public hearing, heard no public speakers and closed the hearing before voting. A commissioner moved to adopt Resolution No. 2025-05 recommending council approval of the ordinance; another commissioner seconded. The motion passed on an aye vote and the item will advance to the City Council for final action.

The ordinance packet assembled by staff includes a table identifying each proposed code change and cross-references to state guidance. Commissioners were also reminded that longer-term questions about statewide statutes and policy should be addressed to state elected officials because those laws determine many local limits.

If the City Council adopts the changes, the municipal code will reflect the clarified ADU rules described above and staff said they will continue to interpret and administer ADU permits consistent with state law and HCD guidance.