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Two-Unit Development and Lot Splits in Single-Family Residential Zones without Discretionary Review or Public Hearing

The California State legislature has acknowledged a statewide housing crisis and it is known that housing demand far exceeds available inventory throughout the state. Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) was signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 16, 2021, requiring all local agencies to comply with the legislation, which includes Ventura County, effective January 1, 2022.

 SB 9 provides the two key changes to the state law:

    • It requires all local agencies to permit two residential units on a lot within a single-family residential zone, with a ministerial review (i.e. without a discretionary review process, environmental analysis, or a public hearing), if the development meets specific objective criteria, as outlined in the legislation.
    • It also requires that all local agencies permit a subdivision of a lot into two lots within a single-family residential zone with a ministerial review, which can accommodate up to two units on each newly created lot.

The complete bill text is available here.

Fact Sheet Graphic

In order to provide more information related to the new legislation, Planning staff has prepared the following informational and application materials, which can guide landowners to navigate the requirements outlined in the law. These materials were updated on May 9, 2022 in response to additional guidance received from HCD in late March 2022.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS:

      • SB 9 Fact Sheet, which provides a two-page summary of the legislation, including the applicability requirements.
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • County View Interactive Map- This free online GIS map includes a variety of data layers available to the public including aerial photographs, zoning information, assessor parcel numbers, jurisdictional boundaries, and general plan designations. Start your search by typing in an address.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:


Questions?

For additional information regarding SB 9 please visit vcrma.org/divisions/planning. If you need assistance in determining if your lot can utilize SB 9 for development of additional units or a lot split, please contact the County of Ventura’s Planning Division at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling 805-654-2488.