Housing rules relaxed to allow more in-law units
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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors in early September adopted a new policy that would allow smaller housing structures to accompany single-family homes on the same property, a concept intended to boost housing in the region.
Under an ordinance passed Sept. 3, residences would be able to develop accessory dwelling units (or ADUs) — often referred to as “granny units” or “inlaw units” — on their property, creating new housing on the same land parcel.
The county has been proactive in pushing forward such an ordinance since a bill by San Franciso Bay Area state Assemblymember Phil Ting became California law late last year, though one supervisor noted that the new law wasn’t intended as a oneto- one fit with Humboldt County policy.
“Every single ADU bill since that one basically excluded resource lands by putting in language,” said 3rd District Supervisor Mike Wilson. “(Ting) is not from a rural area and did not anticipate there would be a county out there that would principally permit development onto resource lands.”
Most of Humboldt County’s land-use types — including the timberland production zone and even the agriculture- exclusive zone — allow owners to build multiple residences on the same property.
In an effort to streamline the process, the county will allow residences to build ADUs without a special permit, county staff said in September.
The ordinance pertains to both inland and coastal areas, the latter of which would need to be approved by the California Coastal Commission.
In agricultural areas, the new law will allow parcel owners to build either an ADU or a second residence on their property, but not both.
Supervisors went back and forth about size limits. If the county were to allow ADUs to be built at unlimited sizes, it could defeat the purpose of the ordinance, which is affordable housing, Wilson said.
“How many people are actually going to do this?” said 1st District Supervisor Rex Bohn. “If I’m going to build a bigger house, I’m going to go find a lot to build a bigger house.”
“How many people are actually going to do this? If I’m going to build a bigger house, I’m going to go find a lot to build a bigger house.” — 1st District Supervisor Rex Bohn