Senate Bill 9 – Build By Design

Ever Heard of Senate Bill 9?

Here's Why It Matters for Your Property

If you own a single-family home in California, you're sitting on more potential than you might realize. Senate Bill 9, signed into law in 2021, fundamentally changed what you can do with your property—and it might be one of the most significant opportunities for homeowners in decades.

SB9 allows you to split your single-family lot into two separate parcels and build up to two homes on each parcel. That means your one house on one lot could potentially become up to four homes. It’s California’s response to the housing crisis, and it puts powerful new development rights directly in your hands.

Generate rental income

by building a second unit and becoming a landlord

Create housing for family

while maintaining privacy and independence

Build and sell

a new home while keeping your existing property

Increase your property value

significantly by maximizing its development potential

Downsize smartly

by building a smaller home for yourself and selling your main house

Think about your property for a moment. Maybe you have a large backyard that you rarely use. Perhaps your kids have moved out and your house feels too big. Or maybe you’re thinking about retirement and wondering how to generate income from your biggest asset.

SB9 creates options that simply didn’t exist before.

Here’s what makes SB9 different from traditional development: it’s “ministerial,” meaning if your project meets the objective standards, the city must approve it. There’s no discretionary review, no planning commission hearing where neighbors can block your project, no subjective design review. You have a right to this development, and that changes everything.