Fontana, CA — On Apr. 8, the Fontana City Council voted unanimously to adopt a permanent ordinance aligning the city’s zoning and development code with updated state laws regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs), replacing a temporary urgency ordinance enacted last year.
The 4-0 vote came during the council’s regular meeting, with Councilmember Peter Garcia absent. The adopted Ordinance No. 1966 updates Section 30-467 of the municipal code, following the implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 2533 and Senate Bill (SB) 1211, which took effect on Jan. 1.
Associate Planner Cecily Session-Goins presented the staff report, highlighting that the ordinance had previously come before the council as an urgency measure on Nov. 12, 2024.
“If we didn’t have an ordinance in place as of January 1, our ordinance at the time would have become null and void,” Session-Goins said. “This permanent ordinance is almost identical to that urgency ordinance.”
One notable change in the new law pertains to deed restrictions required for JADUs due to owner occupancy provisions.
“The only difference is a strikeout to meet state law regarding when deed restrictions would be required,” she added.
Other key updates to the city’s code include provisions that prevent the denial of permits for unpermitted ADUs or JADUs built before Jan. 1, 2020—an extension from the previous cutoff of Jan. 1, 2018.
The ordinance also eliminates the requirement for replacement off-street parking when existing parking is converted into an ADU or JADU.
Additionally, the ordinance increases the allowable number of detached ADUs on multifamily lots from two to as many as eight, provided the number of ADUs does not exceed the number of existing multifamily units on site.
The meeting also included a moment of remembrance for community members Benjamin Adam and Grace Thrasher, with the council adjourning the session in their honor.
“I would ask that everyone please join us in memory today by standing for Benjamin Adam and Grace Thrasher and keep their families in prayer,” Mayor Acquanetta Warren said.
Additionally, Mayor Warren and other council members expressed their appreciation for a local car show held the previous Friday.
“I think we had 60 cars there, which is a great representation,” Warren said. “Our great staff members kept the party rolling, and that made a big difference.”
The meeting concluded with brief holiday greetings from council members and city staff. “Happy Easter to everyone,” said Councilmember John Roberts.
