What Can I Do With My Property & Home?

To understand what is required to build the following units on your property:

Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU and JADU)

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a residential unit that can be added to a lot with an existing single-family home or multi-family development. ADUs can be located in a few different places, either detached (such as a separate building in a backyard), attached to a part of the primary residence as an addition, or be converted from an existing garage or other part of the primary residence.

A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) is a section of an existing single-family home that is repurposed as a private dwelling by incorporating a small kitchen and separate entrance. The difference between a JADU and ADU is that JADUs must be located within the existing primary residence and be no greater than 500 square feet in size. JADUs require owner occupancy either in the primary residence or accessory unit.

Urban Dwelling Units

Urban dwelling units are dwelling units established or proposed to be developed in accordance with the standards, procedures, and requirements set forth under Government Code section 65852.21, either as a primary or secondary unit on a parcel.

Multi Family Dwelling Units

A multi-family dwelling means a structure that contains more than one separate dwelling unit, which is used, or occupied, or intended to be used or occupied, in whole, or in part as the home or residence of one or more persons. For questions or more information on multifamily units, please contact City Planning at planning@atascadero.org or 805-461-5035.

Pre-designed ADU Stock Plans

The City has recently created Pre-designed ADU “stock plans” which will save applicants time and money by providing a selection of stock plans that can be constructed on various development sites. You may review these plans below and follow the outlined process when ready to submit.

Preview the six available ADU floor plans:

Preview the four available ADU Architectural Styles:

Request your full plan set here:

Identify Your Property’s Zoning to understand what is allowed in your zoning designation.

See what land uses are allowed within your property's zoning designation:

• Residential and Agricultural Land Uses
• Non-Residential Land Uses

To understand how your proposed project is classified in the land use table review City Land Use Definitions.

To understand the subdivision and lot split process.

Senate Bill 9 (SB9)

Senate Bill 9 became effective on January 1, 2022. This bill requires a proposed housing development containing no more than two residential units (SB 9 2-Unit Housing Development) within a single-family residential zone to be considered ministerially, or without discretionary review or public hearing, if the proposed housing development meets certain objective requirements. SB 9 also requires the local agency to ministerially approve an Urban Lot Split in a single-family residential zone if it meets certain objective requirements. In both cases, the City may apply objective zoning standards, objective subdivision standards, and objective design standards. Please refer to the City’s SB 9 Handout for more information.

Key Takeaways

• SB 9 allows up to four (4) units on a single-family residentially zoned lot through an SB 9 Urban Lot Split.
• SB 9 requires the City to approve either or both:
  • SB 9 2-Unit Housing Development: A housing development of no more than two units (duplex) on a single-family residentially zoned lot.
  • Urban Lot Splits: Allows for a lot split (a single-family lot split into two lots).

City of Atascadero Adoption of SB 9 Urgency Ordinance

The City of Atascadero adopted an SB 9 Ordinance establishing regulations pertaining to two-unit residential developments and urban lot splits in single-family residential zones in the City, pursuant to Senate Bill 9, which became effective on January 1, 2022. SB 9 requires the City to ministerially approve two-unit residential development and urban lot splits in single-family residential districts subject only to objective standards. This ordinance establishes objective standards in compliance with SB 9, including regulations relating to lot configuration, unit size, height, setback, landscape, architectural review, among other things, without which two-unit residential development and urban lot splits would threaten the character of existing neighborhoods, and negatively impact property values, personal privacy, and fire safety.

View the City of Atascadero SB 9 Ordinance.

View the Senate Bill 9 State Law.

To understand what is required to build additional structures that are not intended for living purposes (garages, workshops, barns, sheds or detached offices) on your property, review the regulations found in the City’s Zoning Code Section 9-6.106 Residential accessory uses.

The following links provide information on regulations for:

The following links provide information on regulations for:

The following links provide information on regulations for:

The following links provide information on regulations for: