Carson cannot require owner-occupancy for ADUs permitted between Jan 1, 2020 and Dec 31, 2024, per Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(7). For ADUs permitted on/after Jan 1, 2025, cities may again require owner-occupancy. JADUs always require owner-occupancy of either the primary dwelling or the JADU (Gov. Code §65852.22(a)(2)).
AB 671 (2019) and follow-up legislation suspended owner-occupancy requirements for new ADUs from Jan 1, 2020 through Dec 31, 2024 — meaning Carson could not require the owner to live on-site during that window. As of Jan 1, 2025, Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(7) allows cities to reinstate owner-occupancy requirements for newly permitted ADUs (existing ADUs permitted in the 2020-2024 window are grandfathered). For JADUs (which are within the primary single-family dwelling, max 500 sq ft), state law (Gov. Code §65852.22(a)(2)) ALWAYS requires owner-occupancy of either the main house or the JADU, except where the owner is a public agency or community land trust.
Where owner-occupancy is required (JADUs, or post-2025 ADUs if Carson reinstates the rule), failure to maintain owner-occupancy is a zoning violation subject to enforcement under CMC Article 1. Owners typically sign a deed restriction recorded against the property.
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See how other cities in Los Angeles County handle adu owner occupancy.
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