Accessory dwelling units: incentives.

The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development within its boundaries that includes, among other things, a housing element. Existing law provides for various incentives intended to facilitate and expedite the construction of affordable housing. Existing law authorizes a local agency to provide, by ordinance, for the creation of accessory dwelling units in single-family and multifamily residential zones and sets forth standards the ordinance is required to impose on accessory dwelling units. This bill would require a local agency to include a plan that incentivizes and promotes the creation of accessory dwelling units that can be offered at affordable rent for very low, low-, or moderate-income households in its housing element. The bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a list of existing state grants and financial incentives for operating, administrative, and other expenses in connection with the planning, construction, and operation of accessory dwelling units with affordable rent, as specified. The bill would require the department to post that list on its internet website by December 31, 2020. By requiring a local agency to prepare an additional plan in the housing element, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 65583 of the Government Code proposed by AB 139, to be operative if this bill and AB 139 are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2020, and this bill is enacted last.