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Updated ‘granny flat’ rules set in Fountain Valley

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The Fountain Valley City Council agreed Tuesday night to update local rules for “granny flats,” following a new state law intended to make the housing units easier to build.

Granny flats, also known as accessory dwelling units, can be attached, unattached or within a larger home. They can include backyard cottages or apartments built in basements or above garages.

Under the new ordinance, units built within a half-mile of the city’s busiest bus lines — along Euclid Street, Edinger Avenue and Harbor Boulevard, where buses stop at 15-minute intervals or less during peak commute times — will be exempt from having dedicated parking. All others must have one parking space per unit, or per bedroom, whichever is less.

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Either the main or accessory unit must be owner-occupied, and the accessory unit cannot be sold separately or offered for short-term rental. An attached accessory unit’s square footage can’t exceed half of the main unit’s, or 1,200 square feet. The total floor space for a detached accessory unit can’t exceed 1,200 square feet.

A lot must be at least 7,200 square feet to have a secondary unit.

The council vote was 4-1. As he did on the first reading of the changes last month, Councilman Mark McCurdy cast the dissenting vote because he felt the parking requirement was anti-car.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD

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