Redwood City Approved New Rules On Accessory Dwelling Units

REDWOOD CITY, CA — The City Council approved this week proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance for accessory dwelling units with some modifications.

The approval is a part of the city's phased approach to protect affordability and architecture standards in Redwood City neighborhoods.

Modifications include:

• A requirement dictating no more than 576 square feet of accessory dwelling unit space shall be constructed over a detached garage.
• Another restriction that second-story maximum heights of 20 feet be implemented with discretion of the zoning administrator to accommodate extra height for roof pitch in order to complement the architecture of a home.

The second phase--proposed home size limits--will be discussed by the City Council at its Aug. 26 meeting. The city Planning Commission has recommended new size restrictions for all single-family home projects — setting a cap of 40 percent of the lot area or a house size of 2,500 square feet, whichever is greater. The floor area requirement is intended to be repealed within two years or in conjunction with the adoption of Residential Design Guidelines, whichever comes first. It would apply to single-family dwellings in any zone district.

These guidelines process will begin this summer and run through early 2020.

In June, the Redwood City Planning Commission recommended the council adopt new ADUs requirements intended to encourage single-story ADU construction.

The Planning Commission recommended requirements to limit second story ADUs above detached garages to 280 square feet and to reduce maximum height of a detached, second story ADU to 20 feet. Among other proposed rules, the commission also suggested exterior stairs would be required to face the interior of a lot, rather than the sides or rear.

See also

• Redwood City To Discuss Accessory Dwellings Monday