Two Dwellings Per Lot?
Despite efforts by CAI and other HOA advocates, SB 9, which allows for the construction of two dwelling units per legal lot, was signed by Governor Newsom on September 6th, 2021. This bill allows lots to be split, regardless of local zoning requirements. This background article shows how up to eight dwelling units could be created per existing lot; however, my read of the statute says the maximum would be four units per existing lot.
The only exception to SB 9 is if the property is “located within a historic district or property included on the State Historic Resources Inventory, as defined in Section 5020.1 of the Public Resources Code, or within a site that is designated or listed as a city or county landmark or historic property or district pursuant to a city or county ordinance.”
The political premise behind SB 9 is that single-family zoning should be eliminated and that this law is the first step in that direction. Could eliminating new single-family developments be the next step? Could housing costs and homelessness go even higher? What is the impact on existing single-family communities? This law is very controversial and will be mired in litigation. However, it does throw down the gauntlet for home builders and affordable housing advocates here in California. For a detailed analysis of the law Read More Here.
