the sb 9 city guide for

unincorporated

Los Altos

Santa Clara County

Grade

very friendly

friendly

restrictive

very restrictive

We've given Los Altos a C for its restrictive approach to the implementation of SB 9, which includes many regulations.

Last Updated:

June 2, 2023

If you feel this grade was given incorrectly, please contact us.

What's SB 9?

SB 9 is a state bill that was created to address California's housing crisis. It allows Californians more flexibility with their urban property than they've ever had before.

What can I build?

You have three options for an SB 9 project

Option 1: Lot Split

Divide your lot into two parcels; building on the new lot is allowed

Your lot must be at least 2,400 sqft and can be divided 50/50 or 60/40

sb 9 standard

Option 2: Two-Units

Keep your parcel as is, and add

up to 4 units total

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Option 3: Lot Split & Two-Units

A mix of the above: divide your parcel, and add

up to 4 units total

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Building max size

Los Altos

, new units can be up to

sq ft. This is half the size of the median single family home in California.

very restrictive

California median home size

1,700 sq ft

Los Altos

SB 9 Limit

sq ft

Where can I build?

You can build in single-family residential zones

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Places where you can't build

Prime farmland

sb 9 standard

Hazardous waste sites

sb 9 standard

High & very high fire severity zones

sb 9 standard

Lands identified for conservation of protected species' habitat

sb 9 standard

Vacant Lots*

very restrictive

Historical Zones

sb 9 standard

SB 9 in Very High Fire Severity Areas

SB 9 in Conservation zones

May require additional permits

Earthquake fault lines

sb 9 standard

Areas of high landslide and liquefaction risk

sb 9 standard

FEMA 1% annual chance flood (100-year flood) zones and floodways

sb 9 standard

Coastal areas

sb 9 standard

very restrictive

SB 9 in Earthquake zones

SB 9 in Flood zones

Building that can't be demolished

Officially recognized low-income housing

sb 9 standard

Rent-controlled housing

sb 9 standard

Housing that has been occupied by a tenant in the last 3 years

sb 9 standard

SB 9 Occupancy requirements

Renting & Selling

For all development options, resulting units must be residential use only

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Renting Requirements

Minimum rental period is

days

sb 9 standard

There is no income requirement for tenants

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

For Lot Splits, one unit must be owner occupied for three years

sb 9 standard

For Two-Unit Projects,

all units can be rented

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Selling Requirements

For Lot Splits, one unit must be owner occupied for three years

sb 9 standard

For Two-Unit Projects,

units can not be sold separately

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Additional Requirements

Here are a few more restrictions and requirements that you should keep in mind when pursuing an SB 9 project in

Los Altos

Parking req.

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Objective Design Review Standards

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Landscaping

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Fire Safety

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Utility req.

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Easements req.

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Height limits

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Bureaucracy

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

Fees

very friendly

friendly

sb 9 standard

restrictive

very restrictive

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City News

Roundup: SB9 design standards at LA council, Fremont Ave road work

Los Altos Town Crier

Cities react, fight back as housing law nears

Los Altos Town Crier

Housing elements challenge Los Altos, Hills to provide for hundreds of new homes

Los Altos Town Crier

What’s driving hot real estate market?

Los Altos Town Crier

Officials warn against density-bonus abuse: commission turns back project

Los Altos Town Crier

Other cities in

Santa Clara County

More about

Los Altos

Los Altos is a quiet, family-friendly San José suburb with excellent public schools, hiking trails, and a vibrant famers market. Who wouldn’t enjoy walking in the Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, visiting lambs at Hidden Villa Farm, or hiking the San Andreas Fault Trail? As is typical of the San Francisco Bay Area, homes are expensive and supply is low. SB 9 has the ability introduce some much-needed housing options in the more affordable “missing middle” range, if the local ordinance doesn’t present too many roadblocks.

Los Altos

Santa Clara County

Los Altos

What can I build?

Option 1: Lot Split

Option 2: Two-Units

Option 3: Lot Split & Two-Units

Where can I build?

Places where you can't build

May require additional permits

Building that can't be demolished

Renting & Selling

Renting Requirements

Selling Requirements

Additional Requirements

City News

Other cities in

Santa Clara County

More about

Los Altos

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