County-Initiated Amendments to Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, and 11 of the Ventura County Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO)

Ventura County is amending Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, and 11 of its Coastal Zoning Ordinance to update regulations governing accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units, aligning with state housing laws and streamlining local approval processes. These amendments establish clear development standards for ADUs and JADUs, including maximum sizes of 850 square feet for standard ADUs and 500 square feet for JADUs, minimum setbacks of four feet for side and rear yards, height limits up to 16 or 35 feet depending on configuration, and parking requirements that may be waived for units located within half a mile of public transit or in commercial districts. Owner occupancy is not required, and rentals are limited to a minimum 30-day term, effectively prohibiting short-term vacation rentals. Units may be constructed as detached structures, additions to existing homes, or conversions within existing buildings such as garages, and are exempt from coastal development permits if they meet specified conditions. The process is ministerial for compliant applications, reducing discretionary review and accelerating approvals. Compliance is enforced through the County’s Planning Division and Building and Safety departments, with inspections tied to local building, fire, and environmental health codes, though no formal inspection protocols or acceptance criteria are detailed. The filing fee for administrative review is $50, payable by cash, check, or credit, and applications are submitted to the Resource Management Agency at 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009, with Ruchita Kadakia, Planning Manager, serving as the primary point of contact. The amendment is administratively classified as a Notice of Exemption under CEQA, reflecting that it qualifies for a categorical exemption from environmental review, and is not a federal procurement action—there are no FAR clauses, contract types, pricing data, evaluation factors, or federal contract administration elements present. The action is entirely local, governed by Ventura County Ordinance Code sections and California state law including Government Code §66333 and Public Resources Code §30603, with no federal funding, accountability codes, or solicitation mechanisms involved.