A California appeals court has allowed a homeowner's lawsuit against the City of Palos Verdes Estates to move forward after officials allegedly took more than three years to approve his secondary home, causing over $1 million in financial losses. In a ruling published on October 23, the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Four, overturned a lower court decision that had dismissed the case. The three-judge panel found that state laws requiring quick approval of accessory dwelling units, often called granny flats or ADUs, were designed to protect property owners from costly delays caused by local officials. According to court documents published by Justia Law, homeowner Wei Shi first applied to the City of Palos Verdes Estates in 2020 for a permit to build an accessory dwelling unit on his residential property. He planned to build the second home at the same time as the main house on the lot. However, the lawsuit alleges that city officials failed to meet legal deadlines and required reviews that were not allowed under state law. These actions delayed final permit approval until 2023.
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