the sb 9 city guide for

unincorporated

Unincorporated San Diego County

San Diego County

B+

Grade

very friendly

friendly

restrictive

very restrictive

We've given Unincorporated San Diego County a B+ for its friendly approach to the implementation of SB 9, which includes some regulations.

Last Updated:

June 22, 2022

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 2 units total + ADUs & JADUs allowed by zoning standards

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

Unincorporated San Diego County

, 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

Unincorporated San Diego County

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

Unincorporated San Diego County

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

Want to learn more about Homestead’s grading system? Read our methodology.

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City News

The Future of Single Family Housing: Implementing SB9 in San Diego County

League of Women Voters of San Diego

Other cities in

San Diego County

More about

Unincorporated San Diego County

San Diego County is the second-most populous county in California, and residents adore its perfect weather, wonderful public schools, and beautiful beaches. Who wouldn’t enjoy boating on Dixon Lake in Escondido, exploring San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, or sunbathing at Del Mar City Beach. Unincorporated communities of San Diego County are as follows: Agua Caliente Harbinson Canyon Pala Alpine Harmony Grove Pala Mesa Village Ballena Harrison Park Palo Verde Bankhead Springs Hulburd Grove Palomar Mountain Banner Indian Springs Paso Picacho Blossom Valley Irvings Crest Pasqual Bonita Jacumba Pauma Valley Bonsall Jamacha Pendleton Borrego Springs Jamul Pine Valley Bostonia Jesmond Dene Potiero Boulevard Johnstown Rainbow Buckman Springs Julian Ramona Cameron Corners Kentwood in Pine Ranchita Camp Pendleton La Presa Rancho San Diego Campo Lake Henshaw Rancho Santa Fe Canyon City Lake San Marcos Rincon Springs Casa de Oro Valley Lakeside Rosemont Chihuahua Valley Lakeview S. D. Country Est. Cottonwood Lilac San Felipe Crest Lincoln Acres San Luis Rey Height Cuyamaca Live Oak Park Santa Isabel Cuyapipe Manzanita Spring Valley De Luz Mesa Grande Sunnyside Dehesa Morena Village Sunshine Summit Del Dios Moreno Sweeney Pass Descanso Mount Helix Tecate Dulzura Mount Laguna Terra Del Sol El Cajon (Unin) Oak Grove Twin Oaks Engineer Springs Ocotillo Wells Valley Center Escondido (Unin) Otay Victoria Eucalyptus Hills Warner Springs Fairbanks Ranch Whispering Pines Fallbrook William Heise Fernbrook Willows Flinn Springs Wintergarden Fostor Winterwarm Glen Oaks Wynola Glenview Yaqui Pass Guatay.

Unincorporated San Diego County

San Diego County

Unincorporated San Diego County

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

San Diego County

More about

Unincorporated San Diego County

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