AB 68
2020 California law that streamlined ADU permits — 60-day clock, parking exemptions, ministerial review.
Assembly Bill 68 (2020) restructured California's ADU laws. Key provisions: (1) cities must approve or deny ADU permits within 60 days of a complete submittal; (2) cities cannot require replacement parking when an existing garage is converted to an ADU or when the parcel is within ½ mile of public transit; (3) cities cannot impose owner-occupancy on detached ADUs (except for JADUs); (4) state-mandated maximum height of 16 ft for detached ADUs (later raised to 18 ft near transit by AB 2221).
AB 68 is the foundation of California's ADU production boom — permitted ADUs went from ~1,000/year in 2016 to over 28,000/year by 2023 statewide.
Sources
Related terms
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)A self-contained second home on a residential lot, with its own kitchen, bath, and entrance.
- JADU (Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit)A smaller ADU carved out of the existing house, capped at 500 sqft, with owner-occupancy required.
- AB 22212022 amendment that closed loopholes in AB 68 — clarified setbacks, height, and the 60-day clock.
- Ministerial ReviewPermit review based purely on objective standards — no public hearing, no discretion.
People also ask
FAQ — AB 68
What does "AB 68" mean in plain English?
2020 California law that streamlined ADU permits — 60-day clock, parking exemptions, ministerial review.
Why does AB 68 matter for a California ADU or remodel?
AB 68 comes up in the California building code side of nearly every Greater LA and Bay Area project we touch. Assembly Bill 68 (2020) restructured California's ADU laws. Getting it right at design saves rework later — getting it wrong is one of the most common reasons permits stall.
Where will I see AB 68 on my own project?
Most owners run into AB 68 during the design or plan-check phase. Your project manager flags it on the schedule, walks you through what the city expects, and confirms documentation is in place before the inspection that depends on it.
Does AB 68 cost extra?
Sometimes — depends on whether it adds scope (a report, a structural detail, a fee) or just a paperwork step. Anything cost-impacting is itemized in your contract or change order, never buried in the invoice.
Who at Alpha Dream handles AB 68?
The project architect owns design-level decisions; the permit runner owns city interactions; the project manager owns field execution. You always know who to ask.