Assembly Bill (AB) 2011, the Affordable Housing & High Roads Act of 2022, allows residential development on property currently designated for commercial or retail use. This informational bulletin is intended to help the reader better understand the specific provisions allowed under AB-2011

Last updated:  September 2025

AB-2097 Parking Requirements
This bulletin provides an overview of the restrictions imposed by the state legislature under AB 2097 on the city’s ability to require minimum parking standards on certain private development projects.

Last updated: February 2024 

Accessory Dwelling Units
This information bulletin describes the minimum development standards and application requirements for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units.

Last updated: October 2025

Accessory Dwelling Units, Unpermitted 
The purpose of this bulletin is to explain the intent of California Senate Bill 1226 and conditions by which it allows the city to legalize existing ADUs constructed without a building permit.

Last updated: June 2022

Building Permit Submittal Requirements, Residential
Considering a home improvement project and are wondering where to start before you start? This information-bulletin is intended to help you get underway in securing required authorizations before you start construction.

Last updated: August 2022

California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA 
This information bulletin provides an overview of the requirements that projects must follow to comply with state and local regulations regarding environment review, environmental impact reports (EIR), appeals and mitigation monitoring.

Last updated: Sept. 2025 

Carlsbad's Housing (Element) Plan 
Learn more about how the state determines housing requirements for the city, the process the city must follow to secure a certified Housing Element, the implications for failing to meet required state housing goals and an overview of the city’s 2021-20229 Housing Element.

Last updated: March 2024

Concurrent Permit Processing Allowances 
This bulletin provides the process to allow a building, grading or landscape permit application to be reviewed concurrently with the processing of a discretionary permit.   

Last updated: October 2021 

Council Policy No. 84 Implementation Guide
City Council Policy Statement No. 84 includes requirements for additional public engagement for projects requiring approval by the Planning Commission or City Council. This informational bulletin is intended to help project applicants and the public understand these requirements and to provide links to samples and templates of the required materials.

Last updated:  December 2024

Demolition Requirements
This bulletin provides an overview of the various safety and regulatory standards that must be followed during the demolition process, as well as a summary of the permitting obligations required before any demolition work can be initiated.

Last updated: January 2023

This bulletin provides an overview of the allowances afforded housing projects that include affordable units under state density bonus law, and the city’s application and processing requirements. 

Last updated: September 2025

Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit Streamlining 
Understand the simplified and expedited permitting process for the installation of an Electric Vehicle Charging Station, as amended by AB 1236. 

Last updated: May 2025 

Historic Preservation
This Info-Bulletin provides an overview of the historic designation process and various incentive programs that are available to owners of these historical structures. Through these programs, we can help protect and maintain the city’s rich cultural history for generations to come.

Last updated: January 2023

The Housing Challenge

Learn more about the housing challenges in Carlsbad, including the contributing factors behind the housing crisis, implications if the housing crisis not addressed, how the city is accommodating housing needs, State legislature’s reaction to the housing crisis and the consequences of ignoring state housing laws.

Last updated: October 2024

Inclusionary Housing Program 
Learn about the city’s Inclusionary Housing Program, which was put into place to help address affordable housing needs while advancing equitable development goals consistent with the city’s adopted Housing Element.

Last updated: September 2025

Objective Design Standards
In response to recent state housing regulations and to strengthen local design regulations, the city has established new objective design standards for multifamily housing and mixed-use development projects.  This informational bulletin provides an overview of these objective design standards. 

Last updated: March 2024

Preliminary Project Review 
Obtain information to help determine project feasibility, clarify regulations and other land use/development questions. 

Last updated: October 2021 

Private Property Permit 
Learn the requirements in order to have a temporary special events private property.

Last updated: October 2024

This bulletin provides an overview of the purpose and processing requirements for Project Facility Availability Forms for certain public utilities and services.

Last updated: January 2023

Reasonable Accommodations
Federal and state laws require that all people have equal access to housing, and recognize that individuals with disabilities may need extra tools to achieve equal access.  This info-bulletin helps clarify what qualifies as a reasonable accommodation and outlines the process for requesting such accommodations.

Last updated:  December 2023 

Recreational Vehicle Parking 
Understand the allowances and limitations for storing recreational vehicles on private property and public streets.

Last updated: July 2022

This bulletin focuses on the replacement requirements for development projects that propose to remove existing housing stock.

Last updated: August 2024

Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems 
Understand the simplified and expedited permitting process for residential solar projects.

Last updated: July 2022 

Right-of-Way Encroachments
The city frequently receives requests from private property owners to use the city’s public right-of-way (ROW) or easement for personal use. In limited circumstances, the city may authorize private use of public property. This info-bulletin provides an overview of the permitting requirements for such requests.

Last updated: July 2025 

SB-4 Affordable Housing & Faith-based Lands Act
The purpose of this bulletin is to explain the allowances offered to religious organizations and non-profit colleges to build affordable multi-family homes on their property through a streamlined permitting process under SB 4.

Last updated: August 2025

This informational bulletin provides an overview of the Middle Class Housing Act which allows residential development on property that is currently designated for commercial or retail use.

Updated March 2024

Learn how SB-9 allows certain property owners the ability to construct up to four housing units on a single-family lot. 

Last updated: Oct. 2025

This bulletin provides an overview of the provisions, allowances and protections provided to certain multifamily housing development projects under SB-35. 

Last updated: March 2024

SB-330 Housing Crisis Act of 2019
Learn about the provisions, allowances and protections provided to certain housing development projects under SB-330. The bulletin has been updated consistent with SB-8.

Last updated: December 2023 

This info bulletin identifies where short-term vacation rentals are permitted in the city and outlines the operational standards and associated permitting requirements for STVRs. 

Last Updated: February 2025

Site Plan Requirements 
This information bulletin describes the requirements for a typical site plan for construction projects requiring a building permit. 

Last updated: July 2022 

Small Cell Wireless Facilities 
This information bulletin describes the submittal requirements and procedures for small cell-wireless communication facilities (SC-WCFs) proposed within the city’s right of way.

Last updated: January 2022 

Small Lot Subdivisions

Senate Bill 684 and Senate Bill 1123 allow for ministerial approval of small lot residential subdivisions. This information bulletin is intended to help the reader better understand the specific provisions allowed under SB-684 and SB-1123.

Last updated: August 2025

Vehicle Miles Traveled 
Learn about the process of analyzing transportation impacts resulting from development using the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) methodology, as required under CEQA.

Last updated: April 2025