Santa Clarita Council Advances ADU Ordinance Updates Despite Fire Safety, Environmental Concerns

Residents raise alarm over wildfire risks and loss of oak trees, but city says state law limits local authority.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:12am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a lone oak tree in a residential neighborhood, its branches casting deep shadows across the sun-dappled street, conveying a sense of tranquility and concern over the potential loss of the area's natural character.The vibrant greenery of Santa Clarita's neighborhoods faces an uncertain future as state housing laws limit local control over development.Santa Clarita Today

The Santa Clarita City Council voted to advance updates to the city's accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance, despite concerns from residents over wildfire safety and environmental impacts. While Councilmember Marsha McLean opposed the item, the remaining councilmembers voted in favor, with Councilmember Jason Gibbs absent. The proposed amendments are intended to bring the city's municipal code into compliance with evolving state housing laws that limit how local agencies can regulate ADUs and certain residential developments.

Why it matters

The updates to Santa Clarita's ADU ordinance highlight the ongoing tension between state-level housing policies and local concerns over public safety and environmental preservation. Residents worry that increased density in high-risk wildfire areas and the potential loss of oak trees could worsen already dangerous conditions, but the city says its hands are tied due to state mandates.

The details

During the council meeting, residents like Lynne Plambeck, president of the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment, urged the council to consider the wildfire evacuation risks and the loss of oak trees. Plambeck pointed to narrow canyon roads with limited evacuation routes, warning that more density could exacerbate dangerous conditions during emergencies. She also raised concerns about potential impacts to the city's oak trees and neighborhood greenery. Councilmember Marsha McLean echoed these concerns and criticized the state's role in limiting local authority. However, City Attorney Joseph Montes explained that many of the local protections, such as restrictions on ADUs in high fire hazard areas and near oak trees, were rejected by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Montes noted that the city had attempted to push back but was unsuccessful, and similar efforts by other jurisdictions were also denied by the state.

  • The Santa Clarita City Council voted on the ADU ordinance updates on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The proposed amendments are intended to bring the city's municipal code into compliance with evolving state housing laws.

The players

Marsha McLean

A Santa Clarita City Councilmember who was the lone dissenting vote on the ADU ordinance updates, echoing concerns about public safety and environmental impacts.

Lynne Plambeck

The president of the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment, who urged the council to consider wildfire evacuation risks and the loss of oak trees.

Joseph Montes

The Santa Clarita City Attorney, who explained that many of the local protections were rejected by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) due to state housing laws.

Patsy Ayala

The Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem, who acknowledged the concerns about the state's role in shaping local policy and the challenges of protecting the city's character while complying with state mandates.

Jason Gibbs

A Santa Clarita City Councilmember who was absent from the vote on the ADU ordinance updates.

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What they’re saying

“We're not trying to be ornery about this. We supported your previous ordinance in 2021 and appreciated the local control, but it's very frustrating to many of us that the state is mandating this.”

— Lynne Plambeck, President, Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment

“So in other words, they don't care about public safety, they don't care about preserving neighborhoods, and they don't care that they're putting people in danger with these laws.”

— Marsha McLean, Santa Clarita City Councilmember

“This is Sacramento-driven compliance. I wish we had more local control. This is a perfect example of how local control is taken away by the state.”

— Patsy Ayala, Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem

What’s next

The ordinance will return to the Santa Clarita City Council for a second reading before it can be formally adopted.

The takeaway

The updates to Santa Clarita's ADU ordinance highlight the ongoing tension between state housing policies aimed at increasing density and local concerns over public safety and environmental preservation. While the city is required to comply with state mandates, the council's discussion underscores the challenges of balancing these competing priorities at the municipal level.