Land use: coastal development permits: accessory dwelling units.

Assembly Members Lowenthal and Rivas propose exempting accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction from coastal development permit requirements in Los Angeles County and other counties under state emergency declarations, aiming to address California's housing shortage through streamlined development processes.

The legislation creates two specific exemptions from coastal development permit requirements: ADU construction within Los Angeles County and ADU construction in any county subject to a Governor's emergency proclamation after February 1, 2025, where housing has been damaged or destroyed. While maintaining the broader framework of the California Coastal Act, the bill removes the requirement for local governments to hold public hearings for ADU coastal development permit applications in affected areas.

The bill's findings cite California's housing crisis and shortage of available units as key motivations for the changes. Authors note that addressing these challenges requires multiple approaches, including increasing overall housing supply and removing barriers to development. The legislation applies to all California cities, including charter cities, reflecting its classification as a matter of statewide concern rather than municipal affairs.