Colusa County Zoning Code § 49.01 General requirements

An accessory dwelling unit:

(a)

May be located on any lot that allows a single-family or multifamily residential use and includes a proposed or existing dwelling.

(b)

Is not subject to the density requirements of the general plan, but shall otherwise be consistent with the general plan text and diagrams.

(c)

Shall not be used for rentals with terms of less than thirty days.

(Ord. No. 568, 5-20-2025)

Sec. 49.02. - Reserved. Sec. 49.03. - Permit requirements.

An application for an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit that complies with all applicable requirements of this section shall be approved ministerially.

(a)

If the department, together with utility providers and county environmental health when a septic system is utilized, has not approved or denied the completed application within sixty days, the application shall be deemed approved. If the department denies an application for an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit, it shall provide in writing a full set of comments to the applicant with a list of items that are defective or deficient and a description of how the application can be remedied by the applicant.

(b)

A permit shall not be denied due to the correction of nonconforming zoning conditions, building code violations, or unpermitted structures that do not present a threat to public health and safety and are not affected by the construction of the accessory dwelling unit.

(c)

A permit shall not be denied for an unpermitted accessory dwelling unit that was constructed before January 1, 2018, because, among other conditions, the unit is in violation of building standards or state or local standards applicable to accessory dwelling units, unless the department finds that correcting the violation is necessary to protect the health and safety of the public or occupants of the structure.

(d)

A demolition permit for a detached garage that is to be replaced with an accessory dwelling unit shall be reviewed with the application for the accessory dwelling unit and issued at the same time. The applicant is

not required to provide written notice or post a placard for the demolition of a detached garage that is to be replaced with an accessory dwelling unit.

(Ord. No. 568, 5-20-2025)