Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU/JADU) and ADU Amnesty Program

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU), is an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit which provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons. It shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel which the primary single-family or multifamily dwelling unit is situated. An accessory dwelling unit also includes the following: an efficiency unit, as defined in Section 17958.1 of the Health and Safety Code and a manufactured home, as defined in Section 18007 of the Health and Safety Code.

In 2016, the state approved new regulations pertaining to accessory dwelling units, which became effective on January 1, 2017. The intent of the new regulations was to facilitate and expedite the construction of new dwelling units that are secondary to a primary single-family or multifamily dwelling on the same lot to increase affordable housing in California. Cities were then encouraged to amend local zoning ordinances to provide a means of facilitating accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under local development standards.

Additional amendments to California law related to ADUs became effective January 1, 2020 which included several changes including the allowance of an ADU on multifamily lots, impact fee exemptions, allowances for garage conversions, eliminated minimum lot size requirements, and reduced the maximum application review time from 120 days to 60 days.

The City of Hanford, in collaboration with the San Joaquin Valley REAP, has made available a selection of “pre-approved” ADU plans that are available at no cost for use by residents. The plans have been pre-approved for streamlined review. Please note, when the applicant selects an approved plan, City of Hanford staff will review site-specific factors for the specific site, including compliance with the Zoning Code. Please note that this pre-approved plans may not be approved for use in certain situations and/or site conditions.

ADU Amnesty Program 

AB 2533 (Chapter 834, Statutes of 2024) made various changes to State ADU Law (Gov. Code, § 66332) regarding unpermitted ADUs and goes into effect on January 1, 2025. This bill:

• Prohibits a local agency from denying a permit for an unpermitted ADU or JADU that was constructed before January 1, 2020, for those violations, unless the local agency makes a finding that correcting the violation is necessary to comply with conditions that would otherwise deem a building substandard.
• Requires a local agency to inform the public about the provisions prohibiting denial of a permit for an unpermitted ADU or JADU.
• Requires this information to include a checklist of the conditions that deem a building substandard and to inform homeowners that, before submitting a permit application, the homeowner may obtain a confidential third-party code inspection from a licensed contractor.
• Prohibits a local agency from requiring a homeowner to pay impact fees or connection or capacity charges except under specified circumstances.
• Authorizes an inspector from a local agency, upon receiving an application for a permit for a previously unpermitted ADU or JADU constructed before January 1, 2020, to inspect the unit for compliance with health and safety standards and provide recommendations to comply with health and safety standards.
• Prohibits the local agency from penalizing an applicant for having the unpermitted ADU and would require the local agency to approve necessary permits to correct noncompliance with health and safety standards.

City of Hanford ADU Amnesty Permitting Process (PDF)