California Quietly Ended Single Family Zoning, Allowing Four Homes per Lot
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(The Center Square) - California quietly doubled down on its termination of single family zoning, ending loopholes that allowed municipalities to block an earlier state law designed to let owners build four homes on existing single family lots. As reported earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal, fewer than 500 homes have been built since a 2021 law, SB 9, was passed allowing owners to split their single family home lots in two, and build two homes on each new lot. Cities quickly passed restrictions to SB 9 properties, such a Temple City’s requirement that 1,000 square foot courtyards be constructed to create distance between housing units, and Redondo Beach won a lawsuit against the law when a judge found it cannot apply to charter cities, and does not meet the purpose of providing affordable housing by not requiring that SB 9 homes be income-restricted “affordable” housing. With Kin’s ruling in effect, lawmakers moved ahead with SB 450, a bill signed into law by the governor in the fall that significantly reduces the power of local authorities to reject SB 9 projects, and redefines state housing goals with regard to charter cities’ power over municipal affairs.
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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_ec839ece-c7af-11ef-a03d-93f8e3efc572.html
United States
