Legalizing a non-conforming unit in Gardena

Entirely inland

Gardena has no coastal zone. No coastal development permit, no second agency, no boundary to check. Of the cities we serve, it is the shortest path from application to certificate of occupancy.

Already in the code

GMC Chapter 18.13 states directly that an application for an accessory or junior accessory dwelling unit shall not be denied due to the need to correct nonconforming zoning conditions, building code violations, or unpermitted structures that do not threaten public health and safety. Gardena has written the protection into its own ordinance.

Rent control

Gardena has no rent control. It does have a Rent Mediation Ordinance (GMC Chapter 14.04) requiring notice and offering tenants mediation on increases above five percent, but it sets no cap. Rent is otherwise governed by the statewide Tenant Protection Act.

What the city can and cannot do

Gardena cannot deny a permit for a pre-2020 unit because it violates building standards or the local ADU ordinance. It can deny only if it finds that correcting the violation is necessary to meet the substandard-building threshold in Health & Safety Code § 17920.3.

That is a far narrower test than full compliance with current code. A unit can fall short of today's standards in a dozen ways and still be permitted, so long as none of them makes the building substandard.