On Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., the City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider amendments to Title 17 (Zoning) of the Goleta Municipal Code (GMC) to update the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations in response to Senate Bill (SB) 897 of 2022. The meeting will be held in person and via the Zoom platform. The public may also view the meeting on Goleta TV Channel 19 and/or online at https://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings.

The City’s current ADU regulations (Section 17.41.030 of the Goleta Municipal Code (GMC)) are not consistent with the new ADU regulations of SB 897. Because of the inconsistencies, unless the City amends Section 17.41.030 of the GMC to conform to the updated State ADU standards, the City’s entire existing ADU regulations will become null and void as a matter of law on January 1, 2023, and the City will have to allow ADUs with no local regulation except for the few requirements in the State ADU law itself.

Consequently, the City Council will be considering an urgency ordinance that would become effective immediately. The proposed urgency ordinance includes an amended Section 17.41.030 that is consistent with the requirements in SB 897. Proposed changes to the City’s ADU regulations include, but are not limited to, ADU heights and front setbacks; changes to the processing and denial of ADUs; and Junior ADU locations, configurations, and definition.

View the Notice here.

For further information on the project, contact Anne Wells, Advance Planning Manager, at (805) 961-7557 or [email protected]. For inquiries in Spanish, please contact Marcos Martinez at (805) 562-5500 or [email protected].

The full agenda, including staff reports and documents, will be posted at least 72 hours before the hearing on the City’s website at https://cityofgoleta.org/goletameetings.