residential Archives

Palo Alto Adopts Bold Upzoning

November 27, 2023November 27, 2023 | Alex Klein

Palo Alto recently reached a new housing milestone. On November 13, Palo Alto’s City Council adopted a legislative package implementing rezonings originally proposed in the City’s still uncertified sixth cycle Housing Element. In addition to increasing density and height limits on specific parcels across Palo Alto, this rezoning effort will unlock multi-family residential development on certain properties zoned for industrial or commercial uses.

The City Council’s action comes after a year marked by Palo Alto’s inability to adopt a compliant Housing Element. After missing its state mandated January 2023 deadline, Palo Alto adopted a Housing Element in March. But HCD, the state agency tasked with ensuring local compliance with Housing Element Law, rejected the City’s March Housing Element forcing City planners to go back to the drawing board. A second round of Housing Element legislation passed in May but to little avail. During its review process, HCD again refused to certify Palo Alto’s Housing Element. In a letter sent to the City’s Planning Department in early August, HCD requested Palo Alto make various modifications before it would certify the City’s Housing Element, citing concerns that the City’s site inventory was insufficient. Consequently, as of the time of this publication, Palo Alto’s Housing Element is out of compliance with state law and the City may be vulnerable to further Builder’s Remedy projects. With the adoption of this legislative package, the Palo Alto City Council seeks to appease HCD in the hope that the agency will finally certify the City’s Housing Element.

In addition to modest upzoning across the city, the enacted legislation focuses on rezoning parcels identified as housing opportunity sites in the City’s Housing Element. These identified opportunity sites are primarily clustered around a handful of the City’s major transit corridors, including properties along the west side of El Camino Real between Page Mill and Matadero Avenue (the “El Camino Real Focus Area”), commercial and industrial properties near San Antonio Road and Fabian Way (the “GM/ROLM Focus Area”), and certain sites owned by Stanford University along El Camino Real and Pasteur Drive. These changes come as affected property owners and lessees along El Camino Real have expressed increasing interest in redeveloping their properties to accommodate new housing.

Under the adopted rezoning package, opportunity sites identified in the City’s Housing Element will be rezoned to allow multi-family housing as a permitted use and will enjoy higher density and height limits compared to base zoning. The upshot is that industrially zoned properties located in the GM/ROLM Focus Area will allow multi-family housing as a permitted use, maximum height increases, and FAR maximum increases from 0.5 to 2.5 within the focus area and 1.5 on other opportunity sites. Because these densities would represent the “base” density, developers could leverage the rezoning and use the State Density Bonus Law to construct even taller and denser buildings. Properties located in the GM/ROLM Focus Area will also enjoy modified development standards, including a relaxed landscape coverage standard, reduced parking requirements, and taller height limits further easing constraints on development and leading to more housing in Palo Alto.

Sites identified as part of the City’s El Camino Real Focus Area will also enjoy higher densities, height limits, and lot coverage maximums. But, in response to local concerns, these projects will also face new headwinds. Residential development on these properties will be subject to architectural review to meet either objective design standards or context-based design criteria and would be required to provide 20% below-market rate housing at 80% AMI, an increase from the City’s typical requirement of 15%.

Finally, responding to demands from Stanford University, Palo Alto’s City Council also adopted higher density zoning regulations for university owned properties along El Camino Real and Sand Hill Road. Even though Palo Alto will count housing built on Stanford campus toward its RHNA, the university intends to develop these parcels with subsidized housing for graduate students, faculty, and other Stanford employees.

Beyond the focus areas identified as part of the Housing Element update, however, the rezoning also relaxes design and development standards for certain exclusively residential projects intended to accommodate lower income households across the City. Palo Alto’s recent rezoning legislation presents opportunities across Palo Alto to develop more residential housing in one of the most expensive communities in the Bay Area.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Alex Klein.

The issues discussed in this update are not intended to be legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is established with the recipient. Readers should consult with legal counsel before relying on any of the information contained herein. Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP is a full service real estate law firm. We specialize in land use, development and entitlement law. We also provide a wide range of transactional services, including leasing, acquisitions and sales, formation of limited liability companies and other entities, lending/workout assistance, subdivision and condominium work.

Transfer Tax Waiver Proposed by Mayor

October 25, 2023 | Kaitlin Sheber

Last week, Mayor London Breed proposed a ballot measure aimed at encouraging conversion of office to residential use in San Francisco’s Downtown by eliminating transfer tax for certain converted residential space. The measure would complement the Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse Program, effective as of August this year, which we previously provided an overview of on April 19, 2023.

Currently, the City’s Transfer Tax is as high as 6% for transactions over $25 million (Article 12-C, San Francisco Business and Tax Regulations Code (the “Transfer Tax”)). If approved by the voters, any deed, instrument, or writing that effects a first transfer of converted residential property, that would have been subject to the Transfer Tax, is exempt from the Transfer Tax. However, the exemption only applies up to the first 5,000,000 square feet of converted residential space. Above the 5,000,000 gross square feet limitation, the Transfer Tax would apply to the proportional value of or consideration for the property, based on the floor area over 5,000,000 square feet.

Under the ballot measure, converted residential property is the property or portion of property that received a first certificate of occupancy after conversion from nonresidential property to residential property (“Converted Residential Property”), and meets the following requirements:

Either (1) the first development application for conversion is approved or (2) the first site or building permit is issued, before January 1, 2030. Note, in cases where there is an appeal, the approval/issuance must be upheld before January 1, 2030;
A certificate is requested from the Planning Department, before January 1, 2030, showing the square footage of the proposed conversion, to be within the 5,000,000 square foot limitation (“Qualifying Certificate”);
A first construction document is received within three years after final approval of the conversion; and
At the time of the transfer, the gross floor area of the improvements divided by the lot area is at least one.

Those who seek to claim the proposed Transfer Tax exemption must take the following steps:

Request, after final approval of the property conversion, a Qualifying Certificate;
Request an exemption certificate from the Planning Department for each transfer for which an exemption will be claimed; and
For each exemption claimed for each transfer, submit the exemption certificate to the recorder at the time the Transfer Tax Affidavit is submitted.

According to the Mayor’s Office, 30 million square feet, or 34% of the office market, is currently vacant in the City. The proposed ballot measure aims to assist projects on the edge of financial feasibility through elimination of tax that would be due on the sale of a converted building. Voters will decide whether to approve this proposed ballot measure at the upcoming March 5, 2024 election.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Kaitlin Sheber.

Legislation to Overhaul Residential Building & Zoning Standards

August 21, 2023August 22, 2023 | Tara Sullivan

On June 29^th, the San Francisco Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of Mayor Breed’s proposed legislation titled “Housing Production” (BOS File No. 23-0446). The legislation amends the Planning Code to encourage housing production by focusing on the controls that mainly apply to Residential and Neighborhood-Commercial Districts. This legislation is proposing significant and far-reaching changes that will greatly change how residential projects are developed, for the better.

First, the legislation proposes to reduce the number and type of projects that require Planning Commission hearings. The major changes are below:

Eliminate Conditional Use Authorization (“CUA”) / Planning Commission Hearing / Neighbor Notice

The legislation also proposes to modify some of the more basic building standards that apply to most properties in the city: setbacks, open space, and lot area requirements. If passed, these changes would be the most radical to residential projects in decades. A summary of the significant changes are below.

Required Rear Yard (Section 134)

Lot Size (Section 121, 121.1)

Front Yard/Setback (Section 132)

Usable Open Space (Section 135)

There are several other changes proposed, but the above are the most far-reaching. The legislation is currently awaiting a hearing at the Land Use & Transportation Committee, which may happen once the Board of Supervisors returns from their summer recess. As with any legislation, changes may occur before it is finally passed, but it is expected to pass largely as-is.

Reuben, Junius, & Rose, LLP will continue to monitor this legislation and provide an update once passed.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Partner Tara Sullivan.

Can New Rules Jumpstart Downtown?

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 | Melinda Sarjapur

Last week, two new ordinances were introduced, both seeking to encourage residential conversion projects downtown, which have been recently touted by the media and policy advocates as one potential solution to address San Francisco’s office vacancy; combat the housing crisis; and draw retail foot traffic back to the City’s core.

The “Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse and Downtown Economic Revitalization” ordinance, sponsored by Supervisor Aaron Peskin and Mayor London Breed, proposes an expansive list of Planning, Building and Fire Code amendments that share a common goal of encouraging downtown residential conversions and revitalizing the downtown core.

The “Development Impact Fees for Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse Projects” ordinance, sponsored by Supervisors Asha Safai and Matt Dorsey, is limited in scope but also seeks to incentivize residential conversions by exempting them from development impact fees.

The Breed/Peskin ordinance proposes the following Code modifications, which, if adopted, would not only encourage downtown residential conversions but would also broaden the types of uses allowed downtown, streamline process, and reduce costs for new businesses:

Creates a new definition for “Adaptive Reuse” project, which would apply to downtown projects that change existing GFA from non-residential to residential. Qualifying “Adaptive Reuse” projects must be located in a C (commercial) zoning district that is east of or fronting on Van Ness/South Van Ness Avenue and north of Harrison Street; can’t utilize California State Density Bonus Law; can’t propose an addition to the building envelope that exceeds 20% of the existing building’s GFA; can’t propose an addition of more than one vertical story; and must submit an application on or before December 31, 2028.
Relaxes zoning controls for qualifying “Adaptive Reuse” projects. Such projects would be exempt from zoning requirements that often trigger discretionary exceptions through a Downtown Project Authorization entitlement and/or drive-up development costs, such as lot coverage (which the ordinance substitutes for rear yard setback in C districts); usable open space; streetscape and pedestrian improvements; bike parking; dwelling unit mix. “Adaptive Reuse” projects would also be subject to reduced dwelling unit exposure, and Intermediate Length Occupancies would be principally permitted regardless of the number of units in the project. In addition, eligible “Adaptive Reuse” projects would not be subject to public hearing requirements for Downtown Project Authorization entitlements, unless seeking Planning Code exceptions beyond those listed above.
Raises the thresholds for public hearings of permits in Downtown Residential Districts and C-3 Districts so that public hearings are only triggered by proposed construction of new buildings or vertical additions greater than 120 feet in height (its currently triggered for any project of 75 feet in height or that adds 50,000 gsf of floor area).
Changes dimensional limits on exemptions to height restrictions for mechanical equipment, elevator, stair, and mechanical penthouses on existing buildings;
Proposes a range of zoning code tweaks intended to draw business back to the downtown core. These include creating a new definition for “Flexible Workspace” and allowing it as active ground floor commercial uses along certain street frontages in the C-3 District; authorizing large-scale retail uses (> 50,000 gsf) in the C-3 District; allowing window displays to be at least four-feet deep in the C-3 District; allowing accessory storage in the C-3 Districts; allowing temporary signs for 60 days in the C-3-R district; allowing temporary “pop-up” non-residential uses in vacant spaces for up to a year in certain C, NC, NCT, or Mixed-Use districts; principally permitting Lab, Life Science, Agricultural and Beverage Processing, and Animal Hospitals in C-2 Districts; principally permitting office and design professional uses on the second floor and above for C-3-R districts; and requiring consideration of office vacancy rates in consideration for granting code exceptions in the Transit Center Commercial Special Use District.
Streamlines sign permit requirement in the C-3 District and Citywide by exempting existing business sings in the C-3 District from certain requirements and allowing non-conforming neon signs to be physically detached from a building for repairs or maintenance, under certain conditions.
Streamlines Historic Preservation Review for administrative certificates of appropriateness and minor permits to alter for awnings.
Allows for In Lieu Fee payment to satisfy POPOS requirements in certain C-3 Districts.
Amends the Building Code by directing the Building Official and Fire Code Official to develop an alternative building standards manual, providing building standards specific to “Adaptive Reuse” projects.

The Safai/Dorsey ordinance is focused solely on economic incentive. It would exempt certain downtown residential conversion projects from all development impact fees except for Inclusionary Housing Program requirements.

To qualify for these fee waivers, an “Adaptive Reuse” project would need to be located in a C zoning district that is east of or fronting on Van Ness/South Van Ness Avenue north of Harrison Street; can’t utilize California State Density Bonus Law; can’t expand an existing building envelope by more than 20% of the existing buildings GFA; and can’t add more than one vertical story. Fee waiver would not apply to the area of any non-residential use proposed within a broader conversion project.

The above ordinances clearly aim to incentivize downtown residential conversions, but it’s unclear whether they go far enough to trigger a significant up-tick in “Adaptive Reuse” projects.

On April 3, 2023, the Board’s Land Use and Transportation Committee held a public hearing to review a Policy Analysis Report drafted by the Board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office on feasibility of repurposing existing commercial real estate for residential use in San Francisco. While the Analysts report identified that zoning and policy changes in line with those under review could help to incentivize residential conversions, it also noted that “converting commercial properties to residential use is not a panacea for solving California’s housing shortage” because such conversions face a number of challenges “including architectural and building design limitations, municipal development approval processes that add time, cost, and uncertainty to conversions…” Likewise, a recent policy paper issued by the San Francisco Policy and Urban Research organization (“SPUR”) found that given current economic conditions and development costs, most conversions of underperforming office buildings would not pencil.

The Breed/Peskin and Safai/Dorsey ordinances were both introduced on April 4, 2023 and assigned to the Board’s Land Use and Transportation Committee under the Board’s 30-Day Rule, which means they cannot be heard by Committee until at least early May 2023.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Melinda Sarjapur.

Cars to Casas Nearing Adoption

December 14, 2022December 14, 2022 | Tuija Catalano

Approximately a year ago we reported on Mayor London Breed’s introduction of the “Cars to Casas” legislation which proposed to make it easier to build housing on existing parking lots, gas stations and properties improved with certain other automotive uses. The legislation has now been rebranded as “Automotive Uses to Housing Uses” and made significant progress in the last two weeks with a positive recommendation from the Land Use and Transportation Committee on Monday, December 5^th, and unanimous votes at the full Board of Supervisors on first reading on Tuesday, December 6^th and on second and final reading on Tuesday, December 13^th. The legislation will be forwarded next to the Mayor for her signature, and if signed, will become effective 30 days thereafter.

The legislation has been pending since October 2021, in part due to the Land Use and Transportation Committee’s request for an economic analysis. If adopted, the legislation will eliminate a conditional use authorization requirement that currently applies to conversion of existing gas station uses, and would create an exception to the permitted residential density at eligible sites. Sites that are eligible under the legislation are those that are currently used for auto-oriented uses, allow residential uses as a principally permitted use but do not currently contain any residential uses, and have not had a Legacy Business on the site within four years prior to the application submittal date.

As proposed, including amendments by the Land Use and Transportation Committee, the legislation will not apply to any properties that are zoned for the RM (Residential-Mixed) or RC (Residential-Commercial) district, or to properties that are located in a historic district.

The permitted residential density for RH (Residential-House) districts is up to four units per lot, and for all other eligible sites density is unlimited provided the project complies with applicable height, bulk, setback and other Planning Code requirements. That said, eligible sites can also utilize the state density bonus program, which can allow waivers and concessions from otherwise applicable Planning Code requirements.

The legislation is one example of efforts by Mayor Breed and the City to make it easier to build more housing and to get entitlements and permits for development proposals, and as such, a welcome proposal. If the legislation is signed by the Mayor in the next 10 days, it will become effective in approximately mid-January 2023.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Tuija Catalano.

Supervisor Mandelman’s Fourplex Legislation Clears Planning Commission

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 | Mark Loper

On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve legislation proposed by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to allow four units on any residential lot, as well as up to six units on corner lots, in “RH” zones.

Supervisor Mandelman’s proposal—actually two pieces of legislation—only proposes minor changes to the Planning Code itself, and is quite simple in its effect: (1) up to four dwelling units per lot would be allowed either on every corner lot or on every lot in an “RH” zoning district, and (2) those sites would be subject to the development controls of the RH-3 zoning district. All other aspects of the SF Planning Code would continue to apply. That includes height, rear yard, setback, and open space requirements, as well as the standard entitlement and environmental review process. The Planning Commission also recommended the Planning Department’s proposed modifications, including that the Board of Supervisors allow six units on corner lots.

Supervisor Mandelman has been pushing for this legislation for nearly a year. He expanded the reach of the ordinance after the state passed SB 10, which allowed moderate upzoning near transit without a cumbersome and years-long CEQA review process that ordinarily would be required (not to mention that each project utilizing the increased density would undergo its own CEQA review). In spite of well publicized denials of major housing projects by the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Mandelman proposed legislation that can become a key solution to San Francisco’s housing crisis. This is not an easy time to propose pro-housing laws in San Francisco, much less expanding its scope when presented with the opportunity.

The Planning Department’s staff report contains an insightful point that seems to get lost in the debate over adding new units in formerly single-family housing districts. 12,568 residential buildings in San Francisco have more units than would be allowed under current zoning. That represents about 31% of all homes in the city. As the Planning Department’s staff report notes, Supervisor Mandelman’s proposal rectifies policy decisions made in the 1970s which effectively downzoned large swaths of western and southern San Francisco. Multifamily buildings coexist with single-family homes currently and can in the future.

The Planning Department’s recommendations included an increase on corner lot density to six units, amending the residential design guidelines to add objective standards, eliminating the RH-1 zoning district and adopting a local alternative to SB-9, increasing funding for supportive housing programs, and establishing an impact fee on homes over 4,000 square feet. Ensuring all San Franciscans have access to capital in order to benefit from the legislation will be crucial to create new fourplex housing. Development impact fees have become a primary cost consideration for development projects; taxing housing instead of looking for a more generalized funding source might not prove successful. Also, establishing objective residential design guidelines will be critical to ensuring that fourplex projects can actually be approved, and in an orderly fashion without overburdening Planning Department staff or dissuading San Franciscans wary of an overly complicated set of guidelines or process. For example, in spite of the RH-4 zoning, the Residential Design Guidelines could effectively limit some sites to a lower density.

As noted above, Supervisor Mandelman’s ordinances as currently proposed are straightforward and clear to understand and execute. They now move to the Board of Supervisors, which will be able to add the Planning Commission and Planning Department’s suggestions and make proposals of their own. It remains to be seen what final form the legislation could take.

Finally, this update includes two maps from the Planning Department’s staff report. The first shows the areas in San Francisco that are currently zoned RH, where the proposed legislation would allow fourplexes. The second shows where new housing has been built in San Francisco since 2005. The maps generally do not overlap.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Mark Loper.

Size Restrictions Proposed on San Francisco Homes

March 31, 2021 | Thomas P. Tunny

San Francisco policy-makers continue to scrutinize the size of dwellings in an attempt to manage affordability and housing stock. Merits aside, policy-makers have expressed a consistent concern about demolitions, expansions, and new large-home construction. The latest measure is an ordinance introduced last month by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman (District 8), whose district includes the Castro, Noe Valley, Glen Park, and Bernal Heights.

Planning Code Section 317 already requires a conditional use authorization for residential demolitions, mergers, and removals. Supervisor Mandelman’s proposal would discourage residential units over 2,500 square feet by requiring, with some limited exceptions, a conditional use for them in RH (residential, house) zoning districts:

Expansions

On a developed lot where no existing dwelling unit exceeds 2,500 square feet of gross floor area, expansion of the residential use that would result in an increase of more than 50% of gross floor area to any dwelling unit or would result in a dwelling unit exceeding 2,500 square feet of gross floor area, except where the total increase of gross floor area of any existing dwelling unit is not more than 10%.
On a developed lot where any existing dwelling unit exceeds 2,500 square feet of gross floor area, expansion of the residential use that would result in an increase of more than 10% of gross floor area of any dwelling unit.

New Construction

Residential development on a vacant lot, or demolition and new construction, where the development would result in only one dwelling unit on the lot or would result in any dwelling unit with a gross floor area exceeding 2,500 square feet.

New Conditional Use Criteria

In addition to the standard conditional use criteria, the Planning Commission must consider the following new criteria:

the property’s historic preservation status;
whether additional dwelling units are added;
whether the proposed development preserves or enhances the existing neighborhood character by retaining existing design elements;
whether the development proposes to remove more than 50% of the existing front façade; and
whether the project removes rent control units.

Exceptions

The legislation would except developments from the new conditional use authorization requirement where a complete development application was submitted before February 2, 2021. The legislation would also except developments that increase the number of dwelling units on the lot provided that no dwelling unit exceeds 2,500 square feet of gross floor area as a result of the development, no proposed dwelling unit is less than one third the gross floor area of the largest dwelling unit resulting on the lot, and that neither the property or any existing structure on the property: (i) is listed on or formally eligible for listing in the California Register of Historic Resources; (ii) has been adopted as a local landmark or a contributor to a local historic district under Articles 10 or 11 of the Planning Code; or (iii) has been determined to appear eligible for listing in the California Register of Historic Resources.

The legislation has been referred to the Planning Department for review and consideration by the Planning Commission. To date, there is no estimate of how many projects would be affected by this requirement in a typical year, how many hours of staff time it would take to process them, or how the volume of new conditional uses would affect backlogs for all projects. No hearing date has been set for the Commission to consider the legislation, but we will continue to monitor and keep readers informed.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Thomas P. Tunny.

New Interim Density Controls for Residential-Commercial Districts

February 24, 2021February 24, 2021 | Tara Sullivan

In January the Board of Supervisors passed interim zoning controls for parcels in RC, RM, and RTO (excluding RTO-M) zoning districts. The controls require Conditional Use Authorization (“CU”) for most new construction or alterations that do not maximize residential density. Sponsored by Supervisor Peskin, the interim zoning controls became effective on January 21^st and are in place for 18 months, until July 2022. They apply to all projects—even ones currently under review by the Planning Commission—where a final site or building permit has not been issued (i.e., any project currently on file with the City).

The controls aim to disincentivize low-density projects, restrict the construction of large residences, and prevent the loss or conversion of rent-stabilized housing units. The zoning districts cited allow for a higher density (i.e., more units at a smaller size), but often are developed with larger units that are more suitable to higher-income families (i.e., less units at larger sizes).

The controls apply to any (i) new construction of a residential building or (ii) a proposed alteration that would result in the expansion of the building. A CU from the Planning Commission will be required if the residential building does not maximize the principally permitted residential density while meeting minimum unit size requirements. The following minimum unit sizes must be used in density studies under the interim controls: 450 sf for 1-bedrooms, 700 sf for 2-bedrooms, 900 sf for 3-bedrooms, and 1,100 sf for 4-bedroom units.

There are exceptions to the Conditional Use requirement where site constraints prevent a project from maximizing density or for certain minor expansions. To fall under the site constraints exception, a project must meet the following criteria:

Existing lot conditions or form-based restrictions on development (e.g., height, bulk, rear yard requirements) prevent a project from maximizing density without seeking a variance or subdividing units (while adhering to the minimum unit sizes in the Planning Code);
The proposed project increases density on a subject lot; and
No unit is greater than 2,000 square feet in size.

Expansions of existing residential buildings are permitted without a CU if the proposed expansion is 25% or less of the existing residential building and:

Does not increase the size of any units that is already larger than 2,000 square feet in size;
Does not create a new unit larger than 2,000 square feet, or
Cause an existing unit less than 2,000 square feet in size to exceed 2,000 square feet.

It is unclear how many projects the interim zoning controls will impact, or whether it will result in changes to proposed development. Until the Planning Department or Planning Commission adopt clear guidelines for implementing the controls, including standards for density studies, the impact of the interim zoning controls remains uncertain. Reuben, Junius & Rose LLP will continue to monitor the implementation of the interim controls.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Tara Sullivan.

New California ADU Laws Aim to Remove Barriers and Boost Development

November 13, 2019November 14, 2019 | Tiffany Kats

While campaigning for Governor, Gavin Newsom pledged to build 3.5 million new units by 2025 to combat California’s housing crisis. One way to meet this ambitious goal is through the construction of accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”). Since 2017, California lawmakers have passed several bills to streamline the ADU approval process. However, exorbitant fees and strict local requirements in some cities have continued to hinder the development of new ADUs. In response, Governor Newsom recently signed into law five bills that aim to further remove local barriers to ADU development, as well as to incentivize owners of both single-family and multi-family homes to add much-needed additional units to their properties.

AB 68 & AB 881 – Streamlining ADU Approvals

AB 68 and AB 881, introduced by Assemblymembers Philip Ting and Richard Bloom, were consolidated and enacted as one bill because the fundamental goal of the two bills was essentially the same—to streamline and improve the ADU process in order to facilitate the development and construction of ADUs. Effective January 1, 2020 these bills will:

Require permits for ADUs and junior ADUs added to existing single-family and multi-family homes to be ministerially approved or denied within 60 days, rather than the 120 days allotted by existing law;
Allow the approval of ADUs in proposed housing to be delayed until the new construction is approved, but the ADU permit must still be issued ministerially;
Allow cities and counties to establish minimum and maximum ADU size requirements, provided that the maximum floor area is not less than 850 square feet or 1,000 square feet if the ADU has more than one bedroom;
Prohibit any lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space, and minimum lot size requirements that would impact or deny ADU production; and
Prohibit municipalities from requiring that existing nonconforming zoning conditions be corrected as a condition for ADU permit approval.

Perhaps most importantly, subject to certain requirements, the consolidated bill will require ministerial approval for projects in residential and mixed-use zoning districts that propose to create the following:

One ADU (attached or detached) and one junior ADU on a lot with either an existing or proposed single-family home;
Multiple ADUs within an existing multi-family building; or
Up to two detached ADUs on a lot with an existing multi-family building.

Note that if a garage is converted or demolished to construct a new ADU, the off-street parking spaces do not have to be replaced. Furthermore municipalities will be prohibited from enforcing parking standards for ADUs located within ½ mile of public transit.

SB 13 – Owner Occupancy and Fees

Similar to the consolidated bill made up of AB 68 and AB 881, SB 13 prohibits the enforcement of parking standards for ADUs within ½ mile of public transit, requires ministerial approval of ADU permits within 60 days, and allows the construction of ADUs in garages and detached accessory structures. However, SB 13, introduced by Senator Bob Wieckowski, goes a step further by tackling two key issues: (1) the owner-occupancy requirement and (2) expensive fees.

First, as a condition of approval, local agencies can currently require that an applicant for an ADU permit occupy either the primary residence or the proposed ADU. Until January 1, 2025, SB 13 will exempt all ADUs from such owner-occupancy requirements.

Second, one of the biggest barriers to constructing ADUs in California are the fees associated with getting them approved and developed. To further incentivize owners to construct ADUs, SB 13 will implement a tiered fee structure based on the ADU’s size and location. Specifically, no impact fees can be imposed on ADUs smaller than 750 square feet, and any impact fees assessed for larger ADUs must be proportional to the square footage of the primary residence.

AB 670 & AB 671 – HOA and General Plans

Finally, AB 670 prevents homeowners’ associations from banning or unreasonably restricting the construction of ADUs on single-family residential lots. Meanwhile, AB 671 will require local General Plan housing elements to incentivize and promote the construction of affordable ADUs that can be rented to very low, low, and moderate-income households. The California Department of Housing and Community Development must also draft a list of “existing state grants and financial incentives” for ADU owners and developers by December 31, 2020.

Together, this package of ADU laws hope to ease local restrictions in order to incentivize the development of “affordable by design” ADUs. In the midst of California’s housing shortage, it remains to be seen what impacts these bills will have on ADU construction when they take effect next year.

Authored by Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP Attorney Tiffany Kats

COPA is Here – Now What?

October 2, 2019October 21, 2019 | Tuija Catalano

The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) was approved unanimously earlier this year. COPA legislation became effective on June 3, 2019, however, the COPA program rules were not published until September 3, 2019 by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD). The COPA program applies to the sale of all San Francisco multi-family rental housing developments with three (3) or more units, and all vacant lots that could be constructed with three (3) or more residential units by right. COPA essentially changes the way in which multi-family rental projects (and certain vacant lots) can be sold by providing certain nonprofit organizations a right of first offer and in some instances a right of first refusal.

Before a multi-family residential building (or vacant lot) with three (3) or more units can be offered for sale, the owner is required to notify certain nonprofit organizations that are on a “Qualified Nonprofit” list maintained by the City. The Qualified Nonprofit list at this time contains six (6) nonprofits. The initial “Notice of Sale” must be made via email, and should be sent to all Qualified Nonprofits at the same time. The Notice of Sale must include statements indicating: (a) seller’s intent to sell the building, (b) the number of residential rental units, (c) the address for each rental unit, and (d) the rental rate for each unit. Qualified Nonprofits then have five (5) days to notify the owner if they are interested in making an offer. If a Qualified Nonprofit expresses interest in buying the building, the owner must provide further disclosures to the interested nonprofit, including the name and contact info for each tenant, which triggers an additional 25-day period during which the Qualified Nonprofit may submit an actual offer. If none of the Qualified Nonprofits expresses an interest in making an offer within the initial 5-day period, the owner may proceed in offering the building for sale and may solicit officers for purchase.

If a Qualified Nonprofit expresses interest during the initial 5-day period, and thereafter during the 25-day period makes an offer, an owner is not required to accept an offer, however, any Qualified Nonprofit that made an offer that was rejected maintains a Right of First Refusal. Under the Right of First Refusal, the owner is required to provide notice to the Qualified Nonprofit(s) that includes the same terms and conditions that were received from the 3^rd party purchase offer.

Similarly, in the event the owner fails to provide the initial 5-day Notice of Sale before offering the building for sale, the Qualified Nonprofits are entitled to receive notification of their Right of First Refusal, followed by a 30-day offer submittal period.

If a building is purchased by a Qualified Nonprofit, the existing tenants are entitled to displacement protection and the building would be restricted as rent-restricted affordable housing in perpetuity, at 80% AMI level. A sale to a Qualified Nonprofit is also subject to a partial transfer-tax exemption.

Under COPA, all multi-family building (and vacant lot) sellers are required to provide a signed declaration to the City, under penalty of perjury, within 15 days after the sale, affirming that the seller complied with the COPA requirements. Seller’s failure to comply with COPA could result in damages in an amount sufficient to remedy the harm to the Qualified Nonprofits and e.g. in penalties in the amount of 10% of the sales price for the first willful or knowing violation, 20% for the second willful or knowing violation, and 30% for any subsequent willful or knowing violation.