The City of West Hollywood is amending Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations to implement recent state laws that provide the City with authority to permit ADUs to be sold separately from the primary dwelling unit and create incentives to minimize housing constraints and provide more affordable housing options to lower and moderate-income households. The proposed amendments to the ADU Ordinance would include the following:

• Allow ADUs to be sold separately from the primary dwelling as condominiums.
• Allow ADUs to be sold separately from the primary dwelling to qualified buyers if the developer is a qualified nonprofit corporation.
• Remove owner occupancy requirements for ADUs.
• Grant fee waivers for ADUs that are 500 square feet or smaller.
• Streamline review for ADUs submitted using pre-approved plans.
• Allow roof decks on ADUs in R3 and R4 zoning districts.

The City is also proposing additional programs to further streamline and incentivize the development of ADUs, including the following:

• Fee waivers for ADUs offered to tenants at affordable rents for very-low, low-, and moderate-income households.
• Additional maximum square footage permitted for ADUs offered to tenants at affordable rents for very-low, low-, and moderate-income households.
• Implementation of a pre-approved plan program by providing a listing of pre-approved ADU plans and contact information of companies offering pre-approved ADU plans on the City's website.

California is facing a state-wide housing crisis, with rising housing costs, and a shortage of affordable housing options. In recent years, state laws related to ADUs were amended through the adoption of various legislative bills to further facilitate and encourage the creation of ADUs and in some cases junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). Furthermore, the City's 2021-2029 6th Cycle Housing Element, Program 13 includes objectives such as the implementation of recent ADU legislation and development of incentives to facilitate ADU construction. Staff is working on implementing these objectives to increase housing affordability in West Hollywood by encouraging and facilitating ADU production.