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Ordinance Amending Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code to update regulations pertaining to accessory dwelling units to comply with California state law and facilitate housing development.
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WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco (“City”) regulates the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADU) through definitions and zoning regulations under South San Francisco Municipal Code Title 20, including specifically Chapter 20.350, Section 20.350.003; and
WHEREAS, the Title 20 ADU and JADU regulations aim to conform with California state law standards for regulating such units and its intent to reduce governmental barriers and to increase the supply of smaller and affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, new state legislation related to ADUs and JADUs was enacted in 2025, including Assembly Bill (AB) 462, AB 1154, Senate Bill (SB) 9, and SB 543, which build upon prior changes to state law and further reduce barriers to the development of ADUs and JADUs and streamline the creation of ADUs and JADUs as a housing opportunity, and which necessitate additional changes to the City’s ADU and JADU regulations; and
WHEREAS, state laws related to the review and approval of ADUs apply whether or not a local agency has adopted a local ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to continue enforce its existing ADU and JADU regulations and therefore it is the intent of the City to adopt amendments to the existing ADU and JADU ordinance that have the effect of providing for the creation of ADUs and JADUs, including provisions relating to matters including unit size, parking, and other requirements that will facilitate creation of ADUs and JADUs in zones in which they are authorized by local ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the amendments to the City’s Zoning Code do not propose any changes to City policies or regulations that would result in a direct or indirect physical environmental impact, and would implement the updated requirements provided for in Government Code Sections 66314 et seq.; and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2026, and July 16, 2026, the Planning Commission for the City of South San Francisco held a lawfully noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the proposed Zoning Amendments and associated CEQA determination, take public testimony; following the public hearing, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 13-2026 making findings and determination under CEQA and recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance implementing the on the Zoning Amendments; and
WHEREAS, on August 26, 2026, the City Council for the City of South San Francisco held a lawfully noticed public hearing to solicit public comment and consider the CEQA finding and the proposed zoning ordinance amendments, take public testimony, and consider the recommendation of the Planning Commission on the proposed revisions to the City’s Zoning Ordinance.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that based on the entirety of the record before it, which includes without limitation, the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code §21000, et seq. (“CEQA”) and the CEQA Guidelines, 14 California Code of Regulations §15000, et seq.; the South San Francisco General Plan and General Plan EIR, including all amendments and updates thereto; the South San Francisco Municipal Code; the Zoning Text Amendments; all reports, minutes, and public testimony submitted as part of the City Council’s duly noticed August 26, 2026 public hearing, and any other evidence (within the meaning of Public Resources Code §21080(e) and §21082.2) (“Record”), the City Council of the City of South San Francisco does hereby ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION I. FINDINGS
1. The City Council of South San Francisco finds that all Recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. The City Council of South San Francisco further finds that this Ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.17 and CEQA Guidelines section 15282.1(h) because they are implementing the provisions of Government Code Section 66314 et seq. relating to secondary dwellings.
SECTION II. AMENDMENTS
The City Council hereby amends various sections of Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code to read as set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein. Sections, subsections, subdivisions, tables, paragraphs and texts that are not amended by this Ordinance are not included in Exhibit A, and shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION III. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Ordinance, including the application of such part of provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council of the City of South San Francisco hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase hereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be held unconstitutional, invalid, or unenforceable.
SECTION IV. PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE
Pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 36933, a summary of this Ordinance shall be prepared by the City Attorney. At least five (5) days prior to the Council meeting at which this Ordinance is scheduled to be adopted, the City Clerk shall (1) publish the Summary, and (2) post in the City Clerk’s Office a certified copy of this Ordinance. Within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of this Ordinance, the City Clerk shall (1) publish the summary, and (2) post in the City Clerk’s Office a certified copy of the full text of this Ordinance along with the names of those City Council members voting for and against this Ordinance or otherwise not voting. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from and after its adoption.
Introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of South San Francisco held the 26th day of August, 2026.