Learn how to apply for an SB 9 duplex or two-unit development in the City of Los Angeles.

Senate Bill 9 is groundbreaking legislation that allows California property owners to split their single family residential lot and, if they wish, build up to two units on each lot.

Each of California’s 400+ cities is interpreting the new law in their own way, and each jurisdiction has a slightly different approach to the application process.

This blog post will walk you through the application process for a SB 9 two-unit development in the City of Los Angeles. For information on how to apply for a SB 9 urban lot split in L.A., keep an eye out for an upcoming blog post on the subject.

To learn more about SB 9 guidelines in LA, read this blog post or visit Homestead’s SB 9 Guide for Los Angeles.

Step-by-step SB 9 application guide

1. Determine your property’s eligibility

Before applying for a two-unit development or duplex, you’ll need to be sure your property is eligible for SB 9. Your parcel may qualify if:

• it’s zoned A1, A2, RA, RE, RS, R1, RU, RZ, or RW
• there have been no tenant evictions on the property within the last fifteen years
• it’s not located on prime farmland, wetlands, floodplain/floodways*, hazardous waste site, conservation area, habitat area for protected species, high or very high fire severity zone*, earthquake fault zone*, coastal zone*, or an historic district.

Zones marked with an asterisk (*) may be eligible, provided certain guidelines are met. For a more extensive discussion of SB 9 zoning in Los Angeles, read this blog post.

If any unit on your property has RSO designation or has been used as a rental within the last three years, you may still apply for SB 9, but you may not demolish or significantly alter the unit.

Check ZIMAS for more info

You can search your street address or AIN (Assessor's Identification Number) in LA’s Zone Information and Map Access System (ZIMAS) to receive a SB 9 Eligibility Criteria Checklist that will tell you whether or not your property is eligible. This checklist can be found under the “Planning and Zoning” tab.

2. Plan your project

Once you've determined your property's eligibility, you’ll need to decide what you want to build. Would you rather convert your single-family home into a duplex or build a second detached unit? Do you plan to keep the existing house or demolish it? Work with a licensed architect or building designer to create the perfect project for your property, needs, and budget.

3. Prepare your application

If your property qualifies and you have your designs in hand, you’re ready to apply! You’ll need to complete the following forms and documents and include them in your application:

• Site plans, project plans and elevations (prepared by an Architect or Building Designer)
• Structural plans and calculations (obtained from a Structure Engineer)
• Energy plan (prepared by a Title 24 Consultant)
• Utilities and grading plans (prepared by a Civil Engineer)
• Habitat Statement Form (available for download here)
• Building permit application (available here)

Your application may require additional forms. To understand exactly what you'll need to include, contact the Building and Safety Department by calling 3-1-1 or filling out this form.

4. Submit your application

When your application is complete, you can drop it off at the Van Nuys or West LA Development Services Center.

Note that two-unit developments are processed by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS), while urban lot splits are handled by the City Planning Department. If your project involves a lot split and two-unit development, you'll need to submit a separate application to each agency.

5. Pay all applicable fees

Two-unit developments may be subject to development impact fees—like the Park Fee, LAUSD Developer Fee, and the Affordable Housing Linkage Fee. Park Fees are calculated by the Department of Recreation and Parks, while the Affordable Housing Linkage Fee is calculated based on the “market area” of the neighborhood.

Applicants seeking a two-unit development and a lot split must pay subdivision fees as well.

6. Submit revisions (if applicable)

If the application reviewers take issue with any part of your proposal, they will contact you to let you know. You will need to correct anything they flagged before they’ll issue your permits.

7. Wait for approval

Depending on the scope of your project and the extent of revisions requested, your wait time will be anywhere from several weeks to several months. To help the approval process move as swiftly as possible, make sure that your application is complete and the project complies with all applicable development standards outlined in the city’s SB 9 Memo and municipal code.

8. Receive your permits and start building

Once the permits are approved and filed, you’re ready to begin construction! You don’t have to start right away, but be aware that permits may expire after a certain period of time.

Learn more

Senate Bill was introduced to help end California's housing crisis. Real estate prices in the state are astronomically high, and the only way to help is by adding additional units. The residential units that SB 9 projects create will add more affordable housing from San Diego to San Francisco and beyond. Local governments are allowed a certain amount of control over implementation, but the state law applies in all residential zones across California.

Visit Homestead’s SB 9 Library to learn more about SB 9 development in Los Angeles County and across the state, and follow our SB 9 News Twitter account to stay updated on the new law.