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2021 Development Code Update

In Fall of 2021 the Yuba County Planning Department conducted the 2021 Development Code Update. The 2021 Development Code Update reflected state-led changes in land use law, primarily oriented toward making housing choices more accessible. The Planning Commission Staff Report can be found here, and the Board of Supervisors Staff Report can be found here.

The Yuba County Development Code (last amended 2-25-22), reflecting the changes found in the 2021 Development Code Update can be found here. The strikethrough version of the changes in the 2021 Development Code Update can be found here.

This project was funded with SB 2 grant funds, in cooperation with the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

The State-led changes are summarized below:

ADUs: In 2019 and 2020, the California Legislature found and declared that, among
other things, accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units in zones in
single-family and multifamily will be approved ministerially if certain conditions are met.
Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units were added to the DC in the
subject residential districts, parking standards, Standards for Specific Uses, and to Uses
Classifications. The accessory dwelling units replaced secondary dwelling units within
the Standards for Specific Uses.

Agricultural Housing (AB1783 H-2A Worker Housing): This legislation creates a
streamlined process to build farmworker housing on agricultural land and set standards to
ensure the new housing is dignified. In the DC, agricultural labor housing uses have
reduced the permit requirements in certain zoning districts have been included in new
zoning districts, and reduced the need approvals needed.

SB 35: This legislation streamlines the process and changes it from a discretionary to
ministerial approval for a multifamily housing. In the DC, added to the Use Permits that
projects that qualify for SB 35 that require Minor Use Permits be reviewed under
objective standards in compliance with law, and to the subject zoning districts a
limitation that standards for review of multifamily housing are required to be objective in
compliance with SB 35.

Emergency Shelters: In the DC, it was removed for emergency shelters to be 300 feet
from another emergency shelter, and regulations around proximity to schools or daycare
facilities, as well as a few other regulations.

Low-Barrier Navigation Center: Senate Bill 48 requires that a low barrier navigation
center, which is a housing first, low barrier housing or shelter for residents who are
homeless or at risk of homeless, development be a use by right in nonresidential zones if
a zoning designation is not possible where residential uses is a permitted use. In the DC,
Low-Barrier Navigation Centers were added to Medium and High Density Residential,
and most of the districts within Commercial and Mixed Use.

Supportive Housing: Assembly Bill 2162 requires that supportive housing, affordable
rental with services promoting housing stability, be a use by right in zones where
multifamily and mixed uses are permitted. Transitional and Supportive Housing was
added as a use to medium and high density residential, and to many of the Commercial
and Mixed-Use Districts, and was added to Standards for Specific Uses.

Reasonable Accommodation: Senate Bill 520 (2002) amends the DC Waivers and
Modifications Chapter to provide the county to remove governmental constraints for
housing designated for persons with disabilities.

Bonus Density Incentive Program: California Government Code Sections 65915 to 65918
were amended to increase the strength of density bonuses for affordable housing. The DC
Density Bonus Incentive Program was amended to reflect these changes.