Second Dwelling Unit Bill Clears Key Assembly Committee

Legislation (SB 1069) by Senator Bob Wieckowski that the Bay Area Council is sponsoring to ease restrictions on second dwelling units sailed through the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week on 15-3 vote, with two abstentions. The Council estimates that if just 10 percent of Bay Area homeowners added a second unit, the region would gain an estimate 150,000 new housing units.

The benefits of second units, also known as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), were highlighted in remarks today (Aug. 12) by Council Senior Vice President Matt Regan at the Innovative Approaches to Solving the Housing Crisis Forum hosted by Council member the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s. Regan explained how ADUs could provide naturally affordable and environmentally friendly housing for thousands of low and middle income renters, but that regulatory barriers such as parking requirements, discretionary permitting, and onerous fees prevent and discourage homeowners from adopting ADUs. SB 1069 would ease many of those obstacles. SB 1069 now moves the full Assembly for a vote. To engage in the Council’s housing policy work, please contact Senior Vice President Matt Regan at mregan@bayareacouncil.org.