Beware CA Homeowners: Your Neighbor Could Add More Homes to His Lot

For those who have not heard the news, in the hopes of easing the housing crisis, California SB9 is now effectively the law. With city approval SB9 allows a homeowner to divide her property into two lots, and build 2 homes on a current single family residential lot, or to split the lot and build 4 homes – 2 on each lot. This new low legalizes duplexes and fourplexes in neighborhoods zoned as single family lots.

The current law allows one home and an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) not larger than 500 square on a residential lot. This law went into effect a few years back and has allowed many people to create space for aging parents, grown children, guests or renters.

The requirements for SB9 are the following:
– The parcel is located in a single family residential zone
– Current property owners must sign an affidavit stating that they will live in one of the homes on
the lot (after adding units or splitting the lot) for at least 3 years as their primary residence
– The new parcels on the split lots must be similarly sized and no less than 1200 square feet each
– Proposals for the new structures must conform to local zoning and design standards, unless so doing
would physically prevent construction for up to 2 units on each lot.

The bill does not apply to farmland, historic properties, wetlands, habitats and conservation lands, and other areas.

Many people are concerned about this, and rightly so. They worry about multiple potential problems – aesthetics, noise, more traffic, and what it might do to the value of their real estate. If you are concerned contact your city planning or zoning departments with any questions, or you can check out this video from the City of San Diego.