Article IV — Combining SU Districts

The district, hereinafter designated as combining SU (secondary unit) district, is established to be combined with residential districts which are characterized by lot sizes, parking areas, street improvements, public utilities, and other residential support systems which can best accommodate them.

(Prior gen. code § 8-44.9)

(Ord. No. 2010-71, § 44, 12-21-10; Ord. No. 2017-13, § 2(Pt. 2), 4-25-17)

In addition to those uses permitted in this district with which it is combined, one secondary dwelling unit per building site is permitted subject to the following requirements:

A.

Parking.

1.

One parking space per unit or per bedroom, available for tenant and visitor parking and having a nine-foot minimum width, an eighteen (18) foot minimum depth, and an area not less than one hundred eighty (180) square feet, or be designed as specified in the Alameda County Residential Design Guidelines, must be present on the property. Such parking may be provided on an existing driveway or within a required setback and may be tandem.

2.

No additional parking for the secondary unit is required when:

a.

The property is located within one-half mile of public transit;

b.

The property is located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district;

c.

The property is entirely within the existing space of the existing primary residence or an existing accessory structure;

d.

On street parking permits are required but not offered to the occupant of the accessory dwelling unit; or,

e.

There is a car share vehicle located within one block of the accessory dwelling unit.

3.

Except for secondary units described in subsection 17.30.110(A)(2), when a garage, carport, or covered parking space is eliminated in conjunction with the construction of a secondary unit, the eliminated off street parking spaces shall be replaced on-site. The replacement space(s) may be located in any configuration on the same lot as the secondary unit and may be covered, uncovered spaces, tandem spaces, or accessible by the use of mechanical automobile parking lifts.

B.

The attached secondary unit shall have a direct external entry and shall be limited to a maximum size of fifty (50) percent of the existing living area or six hundred forty (640) square feet, whichever is less. In all other respects the regulations of the district within which the SU district is combined shall remain the same, except as follows:

No setback shall be required for an existing garage that is converted to an accessory dwelling unit, except as required by fire or building codes.

2.

Units contained within the existing space of a single-family residence or accessory structure need only have side and rear setbacks sufficient to ensure fire safety.

C.

The detached secondary dwelling shall be clearly subordinate to the existing single-family dwelling by size and appearance. A detached secondary unit shall be limited to one story, fifteen (15) feet in height, a maximum size of fifty (50) percent of the existing living area or six hundred forty (640) square feet, whichever is less, a minimum of ten feet from the existing dwelling, and located to the rear of the existing dwelling. In all other respects the regulations of the district with which the SU district is combined shall remain the same.

D.

The secondary unit shall not be sold separately from the primary residence.

E.

The secondary unit shall not be rented for a period of less than thirty (30) days.

F.

The property must be owner occupied.

(Prior gen. code § 8-44.10)

(Ord. No. 2010-71, § 45, 12-21-10; Ord. No. 2017-13, § 2(Pt. 2), 4-25-17)