SB9 Construction Planning

Southern California continues to face a significant housing shortage, and Senate Bill 9 (SB9) was introduced to help expand residential options. SB9 allows homeowners to add a unit or divide a single- family lot, creating new opportunities for increased housing and property value. Complete Package Drafting can help you determine if SB9 is right for your property and provide professional plans and blueprints for your project. Contact us to discuss your custom home building plans.

How SB9 Works

SB9 features two ways for owners of urban single-family lots to build additional dwellings:

Build two primary residential units on a single-family lot. The two units can be single-family dwellings or a duplex. ADUs and JADUs are permitted in addition to the two primary units.
Split a lot into two roughly equal size. Each of these subdivided lots can have up to two dwellings. In a split lot, however, ADUs and JADUs count towards the two-unit limit.

For example, the SB9 project shown on the left is located on a 5,500 sq. ft. lot on N. Lindley Ave in Tarzana. The project includes two new single-family homes (1,274 sq. ft. and 1,195 sq. ft., each 3 bed / 3 bath) along with two rear ADUs (800 sq. ft. each, 2 bed / 2 bath). A modern flat-roof design with large windows, balconies, and an attached carport demonstrates how SB9 can be effectively applied on a compact urban site.

FEATURED PROJECTS

LOYOLA BLVD REDEVELOPMENT

Lot Size: 7,500 sq. ft.
Location: Near Loyola Marymount University

Redevelopment of a 7,500 sq. ft. lot featuring two new single-family homes totaling 3,372 sq. ft. and two rear ADUs (800 sq. ft. each). The project includes demolition of existing structures and a 396 sq. ft. attached carport along Loyola Blvd.

N. LINDLEY AVE REDEVELOPMENT

Lot Size: 5,500 sq. ft.
Location: Tarzana, CA

This project features two new single-family homes (1,274 sq. ft. and 1,195 sq. ft., each 3 bed / 3 bath) and two rear ADUs (800 sq. ft. each, 2 bed / 2 bath). The design includes an attached carport and a modern, flat-roof design with large windows and balconies, all set within a compact site.

N. ALTADENA DR REDEVELOPMENT

Total Units: 5 new dwellings on a single-family zoned lot
Location: Pasadena, CA

This project utilizes a 13,849 sq. ft. lot to accommodate two new single-family homes (1,965 sq. ft. and 2,100 sq. ft.) with a two-car garage, one attached ADU, and two detached one-story ADUs on raised floors. Each ADU is approximately 1,200 sq. ft. (3 bed / 3 bath), with the design minimizing grading while preserving space for landscaping and open parking.

Limitations to SB9

Many homeowners have taken advantage of SB9, building new living units to lease to renters. However, not every urban lot is eligible to take advantage of SB9.

The property must be zoned for single-family only.
It must not be in a historically designated zone.
It must not be on a wetland, floodway, conservation zone, or within the habitat of some species.
Properties in coastal zones, earthquake fault zones, and severe fire hazard zones may need to meet additional criteria or obtain additional permits.

Some conditions make a property ineligible for an SB9 project.

If you intend to rent out one of the units, only long-term rentals are permitted. Vacation rentals and short-term rentals are prohibited.
Affordable housing, tenant-occupied housing, and rent-stabilized units.
Units where a tenant has lived for three years.
Units that have been removed from the rental market in the last 15 years due to an Ellis Act eviction.

For lot splits, there are some other considerations.

Only one split per single-family lot is allowed. You cannot split a property and
then split it again.
A property owner (or someone working with a property owner) cannot split two adjacent lots.
The owner must reside on one of the newly created lots for at least three years from the date of approval.
Both split lots must be at least 1,200 square feet. They don’t need to be equal, but the smaller lot must not be less than 40% the size of the original parcel.

These are a few more criteria the State has set for a property to be eligible for an SB9 expansion. Additionally, municipal governments can specify additional requirements as long as they don’t conflict with state law.

If you think you meet all the eligibility requirements, let us know. Complete Package Drafting can help you obtain approval. Our legal experts are closely familiar with state and city requirements for property expansion, so by consulting with us, we’ll be able to tell you if your property will be approved or not.

Choose Complete Package Drafting

We’re experienced

We have served the people of Southern California for years, and we know what people need and want for their properties. By choosing us, you’re choosing a team of engineers and designers with many years of experience.

We work fast

Your time is valuable, so we want to make the most of it. With us, plans for your SB9 expansion will be finished quickly without sacrificing quality and precision. And with our ample experience working with state and local housing authorities, we know how to get through the permit process smoothly.

We do it all

Some firms specialize in only one aspect of housing design, but that is not our philosophy. Hire us, and there will be no need to coordinate between multiple firms in order to get your plan.

We don’t cause unnecessary costs

We work hard to make sure you get your money’s worth. We keep a close eye on the estimated cost of construction. We have a background in finance and real estate, so if you’re looking at an SB9 expansion to improve your property value or attract renters, we’ll make sure to maximize the return on your investment.

We stay informed

SB9 is a recent development in California, and its rules are not yet set in stone. Policymakers at the state level may yet clarify, change, or remove SB9’s stipulations, and local authorities all have their own guidelines, which are subject to change. By hiring us, you don’t have to worry about following the latest in housing regulations, as we stay up-to-date on all the legal developments.

Understand SB9 with Complete Package Drafting

Since SB9 only went into effect in 2022, its full impact on California’s housing shortage is still unknown. Even so, homeowner interest continues to grow, and we receive daily questions about how SB9 can add value to residential properties. If you’re curious about how SB9 might work for your lot, Complete Package Drafting can help you explore your options and create professional plans.