The Agoura Hills City Council on Nov. 12 conducted a public hearing and introduced Ordinance 25-481, a full repeal-and-replace of the city’s accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations intended to bring the municipal code into compliance with recent state law changes, including SB 543.

Planning Associate Katrina Garcia summarized the changes and explained which units remain locally regulable and which are governed exclusively by state standards. “If any of the proposed ADUs fall within these state protected thresholds, then the city would not be able to regulate lot coverage, setbacks, equestrian, and architecture,” Garcia said, describing the state-protected categories: detached ADUs up to 800 square feet with 4-foot side and rear setbacks on single-family lots; junior ADUs up to 500 square feet; certain conversions and detached ADUs on multifamily lots within the state thresholds.

Garcia said the ordinance clarifies definitions (section 9-120), distinguishes state-protected ADUs from nonexempt ADUs, and proposes limited local authority for nonexempt units — for example, a 10-foot minimum separation between main house and detached ADU, architectural compatibility requirements and front-yard lot-coverage limits so long as those standards do not preclude an 800-square-foot ADU. She also described changes to deed restriction rules (deed restrictions to apply to JADUs only) and measurement changes under SB 543, which shifts measurement from gross floor area to interior livable space.

Councilmembers probed fire-safety review authority and the loss of a prior discretionary fire-safety review. Staff said HCD (the Department of Housing and Community Development) objected to the discretionary language and that objective building and fire-code requirements remain in the building code process. Council members expressed concern that state law reduces some local discretion but acknowledged the city had limited options for noncompliant provisions.

Mayor Pro Tem Wolf moved and Councilmember Chris Anstead seconded the motion to introduce Ordinance 25-481 and waive full reading. The motion passed by roll call vote, 5-0.

Staff said the ordinance introduction is a first step; adoption will return at a later meeting after any additional edits and required findings. Councilmembers requested continued local outreach and explained they would continue to press for protections where state law permits.