SB 284 Delivers Major Changes to Planning, Water Policy, and ADUs

SB 284 is one of the most comprehensive planning‑related bills in years, shaped by collaboration among builders, cities, counties, and industry partners.
Key Provisions
1. Planning Commission & Transparency

• Clear ethical guidelines
• Cities must publish ALL fees, land use regulations, and full application checklists by Oct 2026
• If planning commissions delay action, applications move forward automatically

2. Water Allocation

• Water extraction must be based on 5 years of actual usage data
• Cities must make their methodology public
• If water supply exceeds projected need, cities cannot demand more

3. Appeals Process

• Cities cannot act as their own appeal authority
• Only certain parties may speak at appeals hearings

4. ADU Expansion
External ADUs allowed on any lot ≥10,000 sq ft
Cities may:

• Set setbacks
• Limit size/height
• Prohibit ADUs larger than primary homes
• Require owner occupancy
  But may not:
• Require CUPs
• Impose design standards
• Require excessive parking

Why This Matters
SB 284 improves:

• Predictability
• Transparency
• Housing flexibility
• Fair access to approvals

This comprehensive bill represents the culmination of extensive effort, negotiation, and collaboration among the construction community, counties, cities, and towns.

Covering a wide range of issues that directly impact the industry, the legislation reflects not only technical improvements but also the value of a cooperative approach to policymaking.

Its development required stakeholders with differing priorities to come together, find common ground, and stay focused on practical, workable solutions. The result is policy that is both effective and balanced, addressing real-world challenges while maintaining the interests of all parties involved.

At its core, this bill demonstrates an important principle: when rational stakeholders are willing to engage constructively and work toward shared outcomes, meaningful and lasting policy can be achieved.

To read the language that was adopted in the session, go to SB0284.pdf.