HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes No. 2902 SB9 UpdatePLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO MODIFY SECTIONS OF PALM
DESERT MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 25 PERTAINING TO TWO-UNIT
PROJECTS AND TITLE 26 PERTAINING TO URBAN LOT SPLITS AND
FINDING THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM FURTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 65852.21(J) AND 66411.7
CASE NO. ZOA 25-0002
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert, California (" City") is a municipal corporation,
duly organized under the constitution and laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Law authorizes cities to establish by
ordinance the regulations for land use and development; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, the California Legislature approved, and Governor Gavin
Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 9 ("SB 9"), which among other things, adds
Government Code section 65852.21 and 66411.7 to impose new limits on local authority
to regulate urban lot splits and two-unit projects; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, the California Legislature approved, and the Governor signed
into law, Senate Bill 450 (“SB 450”), which further amends state law established under
SB 9;
WHEREAS, SB 450 maintains the goals of SB 9 with key provisions to ensure
homeowners can fully utilize the streamlined housing options put in place by SB 9; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to amend its local Ordinance to provide opportunities
for streamlining the construction of urban lot splits and two-unit projects; and
WHEREAS, on October 21st, 2025, the Planning Commission held a duly-noticed
public hearing to consider the attached Zoning Ordinance Amendment; and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City
of Palm Desert, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Incorporation. The recitals above are true and correct and are each
incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the Planning Commission.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
2
SECTION 2. Amendment. The Planning Commission of the City of Palm Desert
recommends that the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, approve and
adopt the PDMC amendments to Titles 25 and 26 as shown in “Exhibit A”, which is
attached hereto and incorporated herewith.
SECTION 3. CEQA. The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council
find that, under California Government Code sections 65852.21(k), and 66411.7(n), the
adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of Government
Code sections 66411.7 and 65852.21 regulating urban lot splits and two-unit projects is
statutorily exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA"). Therefore, the proposed ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA in that the
proposed ordinance implements laws enacted by SB 9 and SB 450.
SECTION 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph,
sentence, clause, or phrase in this ordinance or any part thereof is for any reason held to
be unconstitutional or invalid, or ineffective by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
decision shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remaining portions of this
ordinance or any part thereof. The Planning Commission hereby declares that it would
have passed each section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or
phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that one (1) or more subsections, subdivisions,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared unconstitutional, invalid, or
ineffective.
SECTION 5. Recommendation. Given the foregoing, and based on the entire
record before the Planning Commission, the Planning Commission hereby recommends
that the City Council adopt the ordinance attached hereto as Exhibit “A.”
SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Resolution takes effect immediately upon
adoption.
SECTION 7. Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute
the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at the City’s
office at 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Rosie Lua, the Secretary to
the Palm Desert Planning Commission, is the custodian of the record of proceedings.
SECTION 8. Execution of Resolution. The Chairperson of the Planning
Commission signs this Resolution, and the Secretary to the Commission shall attest and
certify to the passage and adoption thereof.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
3
ADOPTED ON October 21, 2025.
LINDSAY HOLT
CHAIRPERSON
ATTEST:
ROSIE LUA
SECRETARY
I, Rosie Lua, Secretary of the City of Palm Desert Planning Commission, hereby
certify that Resolution No. 2902 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at
a regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Desert on October 21,
2025, by the following vote:
AYES: COLLUM, GREENWOOD, HOLT, MEYERHOFF, NICKERSON
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
RECUSED: NONE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of
the City of Palm Desert, California, on December _3_, 2025
ROSIE LUA
SECRETARY
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
4
“EXHIBIT A”
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
SECTION 1. Amendment to Palm Desert Municipal Code. Palm Desert Municipal
Code Section 25.34.180 is hereby amended as follows:
25.34.180 Two-unit projects.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow and appropriately regulate two-
unit projects in accordance with Government Code Section 65852.21.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or this code, the City shall follow
requirements of state law for reviewing and approving or denying applications for
two-unit projects.
B. Definition. A "two-unit project" means the development of 2 primary dwelling units
or if there is already a primary dwelling unit on the lot, the development of a second
primary dwelling unit on a legally subdivided lot in accordance with the
requirements of this section and Government Code Section 65852.21.
C. Application.
1. An application for a two-unit project must be submitted on the City's
approved form.
2. The applicant must obtain a certificate of compliance with the Subdivision
Map Act for the lot and provide the certificate with the application.
3. Only a complete application will be considered. The City will inform the
applicant in writing of any incompleteness within 30 days after the
application is submitted.
4. The City will review and approve or deny an application within 60 days from
the date a complete application is received. If an application is denied, the
City will provide written comments to the applicant with a list of items that
are defective or deficient, with a description of how the application may be
remedied.
5. The City may establish a fee to recover its costs for adopting, implementing,
and enforcing this section of the code, in accordance with applicable law.
The City Council may establish and change the fee by resolution. The fee
must be paid with the application.
D. Approval.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
5
1. An application for a two-unit project is approved or denied ministerially, by
the Director of Development Services, without discretionary review.
2. The ministerial approval of a two-unit project does not take effect until the
City has confirmed that the required documents have been recorded, such
as the deed restriction and easements.
3. The approval must require the owner and applicant to hold the City
harmless from all claims and damages related to the approval and its
subject matter.
4. The approval must require the owner and applicant to reimburse the City
for all costs of enforcement, including attorneys' fees and costs associated
with enforcing the requirements of this code.
5. The City will review and approve or deny an application within 60 days from
the date a complete application is received. If an application is denied, the
City will provide written comments to the applicant with a list of items that
are defective or deficient, with a description of how the application may be
remedied. If the City has not approved or denied a complete application
within 60 days, the application is deemed approved.
E. Requirements. A two-unit project must satisfy each of the following requirements:
1. Map Act Compliance. The lot must have been legally subdivided.
2. Zone. The lot is in a single-family residential zone. For purposes of this
section, a single-family residential zone is a zone where the only residential
use that is allowed as a primary use is a single residential dwelling on a lot.
3. Lot Location.
a. The lot is not located on a site that is any of the following:
i. Prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or land
that is zoned or designated for agricultural protection or
preservation by the voters.
ii. A wetland.
iii. Within a very high fire hazard severity zone, unless the site
complies with all fire-hazard mitigation measures required by
existing building standards.
iv. A hazardous waste site that has not been cleared for
residential use.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
6
v. Within a delineated earthquake fault zone, unless all
development on the site complies with applicable seismic
protection building code standards.
vi. Within a 100-year flood hazard area, unless the site has
either:
(A) Been subject to a letter of map revision prepared by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency and issued
to the local jurisdiction, or
(B) Meets Federal Emergency Management Agency
requirements necessary to meet minimum flood plain
management criteria of the National Flood Insurance
Program.
vii. Within a regulatory floodway unless all development on the
site has received a no-rise certification.
viii. Land identified for conservation in an adopted natural
community conservation plan, habitat conservation plan, or
other adopted natural resource protection plan.
ix. Habitat for protected species.
x. Land under conservation easement.
b. The purpose of this subsection (E)(3)is merely to summarize the
requirements of Government Code Sections 65913.4(a)(6)(B)–(K).
Not Historic. The lot must not be a historic property or within a historic
district that is included on the State Historic Resources Inventory.
Nor may the lot be or be within a site that is designated by ordinance
as a city or county landmark or as a historic property or district.
4. No Impact on Protected Housing. The two-unit project must not require or
include the demolition or alteration of any of the following types of housing:
a. Housing that is income-restricted for households of moderate, low,
or very low income.
b. Housing that is subject to any form of rent or price control through a
public entity's valid exercise of its policy power.
c. Housing, or a lot that used to have housing, that has been withdrawn
from rental or lease under the Ellis Act (Government Code Sections
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
7
7060–7060.7) at any time in the 15 years prior to submission of the
urban lot split application.
d. Housing that has been occupied by a tenant in the last 3 years.
i. The applicant and the owner of a property for which a two-unit
project is sought must provide a sworn statement as to this
fact with the application for the parcel map. The City may
conduct its own inquiries and investigation to ascertain the
veracity of the sworn statement, including, but not limited to,
surveying owners of nearby properties; and the City may
require additional evidence of the applicant and owner as
necessary to determine compliance with this requirement.
5. Unit Standards. Except as otherwise provided in this section or state law
(including, but not limited to, Government Code section 65852.21),
development on the resulting lots must comply with the objective standards
of the underlying zone.
a. Quantity.
i. No more than 2 dwelling units of any kind may be built on a
lot that results from an urban lot split. For purposes of this
paragraph, "unit" means any dwelling unit, including, but not
limited to, a primary dwelling unit, a unit created under this
section of this code, an ADU, or a JADU.
ii. A lot that is not created by an urban lot split may have a two-
unit project under this section, plus any ADU or JADU that
must be allowed under state law and the City's ADU
ordinance.
b. Unit Size.
i. The total floor area of each primary dwelling built that is
developed under this section must be
c. Height Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this section or
state law (including, but not limited to, Government Code section
65852.21), development on the resulting lots must comply with the
objective standards of the underlying zone.
d. Lot Coverage. The lot coverage of the subject property's zoning
district or specific plan designation shall apply to the existing and
newly created parcel, the application of this lot coverage standard is
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
8
only enforced to the extent that it does not prevent two primary
dwelling units on the lot at 800 square feet each.
e. Setbacks.
i. Generally. All setbacks must conform to those objective
setbacks that are imposed through the underlying zone.
ii. Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsection 25.34.180(E)(6)(f)(i)
above:
(A) Existing Structures. No setback is required for an
existing legally established structure or for a new
structure that is constructed in the same location and
to the same dimensions as an existing legally
established structure.
(B) 800 Square Feet; Four-Foot Side and Rear. The
setbacks imposed by the underlying zone must yield to
the degree necessary to avoid physically precluding
the construction of up to two units on the lot or either of
the two units from being at least 800 square feet in floor
area, but in no event may any structure be less than
four feet from a side or rear property line.
iii. Front Setback Area (Street Facing). Notwithstanding any
other part of this code, dwellings that are constructed after an
urban lot split must have the front setback street as required
by the underlying zone.
f. Parking. Each new primary dwelling unit must have at least one off-
street parking space per unit unless 1 of the following applies:
(A) The parcel is located within one-half mile walking
distance of either a high-quality transit corridor, as
defined in subdivision (b) of Section 21155 of the
Public Resources Code, or a major transit stop, as
defined in Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources
Code.
(B) There is a car share vehicle located within one block of
the parcel.
g. Architecture. Except as otherwise provided in this section or state
law (including, but not limited to, Government Code section
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
9
65852.21), development on the resulting lots must comply with the
objective standards of the underlying zone.
h. Utilities.
i. Each primary dwelling unit on the lot must have its own direct
utility connection to the utility service provider.
ii. Each primary dwelling unit on the lot that is or that is proposed
to be connected to an on-site wastewater treatment system
must first have a percolation test completed within the last 5
years or, if the percolation test has been recertified, within the
last 10 years.
i. Building and Safety. All structures built on the lot must comply with
all current local building standards. A project under this section is a
change of use and subjects the whole of the lot, and all structures,
to the City's current code.
6. Regulation of Uses.
a. Residential-only. No non-residential use is permitted on the lot.
b. No STRs. No dwelling unit on the lot may be rented for a period of
less than 30 days.
7. Deed Restriction. The owner must record a deed restriction, acceptable to
the City, that does each of the following:
a. Expressly prohibits any rental of any dwelling on the property for a
period of less than 30 days.
b. Expressly prohibits any non-residential use of the lot.
c. States that the property is formed by an urban lot split and is
therefore subject to the City's urban lot split regulations, including all
applicable limits on dwelling size and development.
F. Specific Adverse Impacts.
1. Notwithstanding anything else in this section, the City may deny an
application for a two-unit project if the building official makes a written
finding, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the project would
have a "specific, adverse impact" on either public health and safety or on
the physical environment and for which there is no feasible method to
satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
10
2. "Specific adverse impact" has the same meaning as in Government Code
Section 65589.5(d)(2): "a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable
impact, based on objective, identified written public health or safety
standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application
was deemed complete" and does not include: (a) inconsistency with the
zoning ordinance or general plan land use designation; or (b) the eligibility
to claim a welfare exemption under Revenue and Taxation Code Section
214(g).
3. The building official may consult with and be assisted by planning staff and
others as necessary in making a finding of specific, adverse impact.
G. Remedies. If a two-unit project violates any part of this code or any other legal
requirement:
1. The buyer, grantee, or lessee of any part of the property has an action for
damages or to void the deed, sale, or contract.
2. The City may:
a. Bring an action to enjoin any attempt to sell, lease, or finance the
property.
b. Bring an action for other legal, equitable, or summary remedy, such
as declaratory and injunctive relief.
c. Pursue criminal prosecution, punishable by imprisonment in County
Jail or state prison for up to 1 year, by a fine of up to $10,000.00, or
both, or a misdemeanor.
d. Record a notice of violation.
e. Withhold any or all future permits and approvals.
f. Pursue all other administrative, legal, or equitable remedies that are
allowed by law or the City's code.
(Ord. 1373 § 3, 2021)
SECTION 2. Amendment to Palm Desert Municipal Code. Palm Desert Municipal
Code Section 26.30.010 is hereby amended as follows:
26.30.010. Urban lot splits.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow and appropriately regulate urban
lot splits in accordance with Government Code Section 66411.7. Notwithstanding
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
11
any other provision of this section or this code, the City shall follow requirements
of state law for reviewing and approving or denying an application for an urban lot
split.
B. Definition. An “urban lot split” means the subdivision of an existing, legally
subdivided lot into two lots in accordance with the requirements of Government
Code Section 66411.7 and this section.
C. Application.
1. An application for an urban lot split must be submitted on the city’s approved
form. Only a complete application will be considered. The city will inform the
applicant in writing of any incompleteness within thirty days after the
application is submitted.
2. The city may establish a fee to recover its costs for adopting, implementing,
and enforcing this section of the code, in accordance with applicable law.
The city council may establish and change the fee by resolution. The fee
must be paid with the application.
D. Approval.
1. An application for a parcel map for an urban lot split is approved or denied
ministerially, by the director of development services, without discretionary
review.
2. A tentative parcel map for an urban lot split is approved ministerially if it
complies with all the requirements of this section. The tentative parcel map
may not be recorded. A final parcel map is approved ministerially as well,
but not until the owner demonstrates that the required documents have
been recorded, such as the deed restriction and easements. The tentative
parcel map expires three months after approval.
3. The approval must require the owner and applicant to hold the city harmless
from all claims and damages related to the approval and its subject matter.
4. The approval must require the owner and applicant to reimburse the city for
all costs of enforcement, including attorneys’ fees and costs associated with
enforcing the requirements of this code.
5. The City will review and approve or deny an application within 60 days from
the date a complete application is received. If an application is denied, the
City will provide written comments to the applicant with a list of items that
are defective or deficient, with a description of how the application may be
remedied. If the City has not approved or denied a complete application
within 60 days, the application is deemed approved.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
12
E. Requirements. An urban lot split must satisfy each of the following requirements:
1. Map Act Compliance.
a. The urban lot split must conform to all applicable objective
requirements of the Subdivision Map Act (Government Code Section
66410 et seq., “SMA”), including implementing requirements in this
code, and a list of application requirements except as otherwise
expressly provided in this section.
b. If an urban lot split violates any part of the SMA, the city’s subdivision
regulations, including this section, or any other legal requirement:
i. The buyer or grantee of a lot that is created by the urban lot
split has all the remedies available under the SMA, including,
but not limited to, an action for damages or to void the deed,
sale, or contract.
ii. The city has all the remedies available to it under the SMA,
including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) An action to enjoin any attempt to sell, lease, or finance
the property.
(B) An action for other legal, equitable, or summary
remedy, such as declaratory and injunctive relief.
(C) Criminal prosecution, punishable by imprisonment in
County Jail or state prison for up to one year, by a fine
of up to ten thousand dollars, or both, or a
misdemeanor.
(D) Record a notice of violation.
(E) Withhold any or all future permits and approvals.
c. Notwithstanding Section 66411.1 of the SMA, no dedication of rights-
of-way or construction of offsite improvements is required for an
urban lot split.
2. Zone. Development Standards. The lot to be split is in a single-family
residential zone. For purposes of this section, a single-family residential
zone is a zone where the only residential use that is allowed as a primary
use is a single residential dwelling on a lot. Except as otherwise provided in
this section or state law (including, but not limited to, Government Code
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
13
section 66411.7(m)), development on the resulting lots must comply with
the objective standards of the underlying zone.
3. Lot Location.
a. The lot to be split is not located on a site that is any of the following:
i. Prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or land
that is zoned or designated for agricultural protection or
preservation by the voters.
ii. A wetland.
iii. Within a very high fire hazard severity zone, unless the site
complies with all fire-hazard mitigation measures required by
existing building standards.
iv. A hazardous waste site that has not been cleared for
residential use.
v. Within a delineated earthquake fault zone, unless all
development on the site complies with applicable seismic
protection building code standards.
vi. Within a one hundred year flood hazard area, unless the site
has either:
(A) Been subject to a letter of map revision prepared by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency and issued
to the local jurisdiction, or
(B) Meets Federal Emergency Management Agency
requirements necessary to meet minimum flood plain
management criteria of the National Flood Insurance
Program.
vii. Within a regulatory floodway unless all development on the
site has received a no-rise certification.
viii. Land identified for conservation in an adopted natural
community conservation plan, habitat conservation plan, or
other adopted natural resource protection plan.
ix. Habitat for protected species.
x. Land under conservation easement.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
14
b. The purpose of this subsection (E)(3) is merely to summarize the
requirements of Government Code Sections 65913.4(a)(6)(B)–(K).
(See Government Code Section 66411.7(a)(3)(C)).
4. Not Historic. The lot to be split must not be a historic property or within a
historic district that is included on the State Historic Resources Inventory.
Nor may the lot be or be within a site that is designated by ordinance as a
city or county landmark or as a historic property or district.
5. No Prior Urban Lot Split.
a. The lot to be split was not established through a prior urban lot split.
b. The lot to be split is not adjacent to any lot that was established
through a prior urban lot split by the owner of the lot to be split or by
any person acting in concert with the owner.
6. No Impact on Protected Housing. The urban lot split must not require or
include the demolition or alteration of any of the following types of housing:
a. Housing that is income-restricted for households of moderate, low,
or very low income.
b. Housing that is subject to any form of rent or price control through a
public entity’s valid exercise of its policy power.
c. Housing, or a lot that used to have housing, that has been withdrawn
from rental or lease under the Ellis Act (Government Code Sections
7060–7060.7) at any time in the fifteen years prior to submission of
the urban lot split application.
d. Housing that has been occupied by a tenant in the last three years.
i. The applicant and the owner of a property for which an urban
lot split is sought must provide a sworn statement as to this
fact with the application for the parcel map. The city may
conduct its own inquiries and investigation to ascertain the
veracity of the sworn statement, including, but not limited to,
surveying owners of nearby properties; and the city may
require additional evidence of the applicant and owner as
necessary to determine compliance with this requirement.
7. Lot Size.
a. The lot to be split must be at least two thousand four hundred square
feet.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
15
b. The resulting lots must each be at least one thousand two hundred
square feet.
c. Each of the resulting lots must be between sixty percent and forty
percent of the original lot area.
8. Easements.
a. The owner must enter into an easement agreement with each public-
service provider to establish easements that are sufficient for the
provision of public services and facilities to each of the resulting lots.
b. Each easement must be shown on the tentative parcel map.
c. Copies of the unrecorded easement agreements must be submitted
with the application. The easement agreements must be recorded
against the property before the final map may be approved, in
accordance with subsection (D)(2) above.
9. Lot Access.
a. Each resulting lot must adjoin the public street right-of-way.
b. Each resulting lot must have frontage on the public street right-of-
way of at least twelve and one half feet.
c. All vehicular access must be at the frontage on the public right-of-
way.
10. Unit Standards.
a. Quantity. No more than two dwelling units of any kind may be built
on a lot that results from an urban lot split. For purposes of this
paragraph, “unit” means any dwelling unit, including, but not limited
to, a primary dwelling unit, a unit created under Section 25.34.180 of
this code, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or a junior accessory
dwelling unit (JADU).
b. Setbacks.
i. Generally. All setbacks must conform to those objective
setbacks that are imposed through the underlying zone.
ii. Exceptions. Notwithstanding subparagraph (e)(i) above:
(A) Existing Structures. No setback is required for an
existing legally established structure or for a new
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
16
structure that is constructed in the same location and
to the same dimensions as an existing legally
established structure.
(B) Eight Hundred Square Feet; Four-Foot Side and Rear.
The setbacks imposed by the underlying zone must
yield to the degree necessary to avoid physically
precluding the construction of up to two units on the lot
or either of the two units from being at least eight
hundred square feet in floor area, but in no event may
any structure be less than four feet from a side or rear
property line.
c. Parking. Each new primary dwelling unit that is built on a lot after an
urban lot split must have at least one off-street parking space per unit
unless one of the following applies:
i. The lot is located within one-half mile walking distance of
either:
(A) A corridor with fixed route bus service with service
intervals no longer than fifteen minutes during peak
commute hours; or
(B) A site that contains:
(1) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station,
(2) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail
transit service, or the intersection of two or more
major bus routes with a frequency of service
interval of fifteen minutes or less during the
morning and afternoon peak commute periods.
(3) The site is located within one block of a car-
share vehicle location.
(C) Nonconforming Conditions. An urban lot split may be
approved without requiring a legal nonconforming
zoning condition to be corrected.
d. Between Resulting Lots. Separate conveyance of the resulting lots
is permitted. If dwellings or other structures (such as garages) on
different lots are adjacent or attached to each other, the urban lot
split boundary may separate them for conveyance purposes if the
structures meet building code safety standards and are sufficient to
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
17
allow separate conveyance. If any attached structures span or will
span the new lot line, the owner must record appropriate CC&Rs,
easements, or other documentation that is necessary to allocate
rights and responsibility between the owners of the two lots.
11. Regulation of Uses.
a. Residential-Only. No non-residential use is permitted on any lot
created by urban lot split.
b. No Short-term Rentals (STRs). No dwelling unit on a lot that is
created by an urban lot split may be rented for a period of less than
thirty days.
c. Owner Occupancy. The applicant for an urban lot split must sign an
affidavit stating that the applicant intends to occupy one of the
dwelling units on one of the resulting lots as the applicant’s principal
residence for a minimum of three years after the urban lot split is
approved.
12. Deed Restriction. The owner must record a deed restriction, acceptable to
the city, that does each of the following:
a. Expressly prohibits any rental of any dwelling on the property for a
period of less than thirty days.
b. Expressly prohibits any non-residential use of the lots created by the
urban lot split.
c. States that the property is formed by an urban lot split and is
therefore subject to the city’s urban lot split regulations..
d. Specific Adverse Impacts.
i. Notwithstanding anything else in this section, the city may
deny an application for an urban lot split if the building official
makes a written finding, based on a preponderance of the
evidence, that the project would have a “specific, adverse
impact” on either public health and safety or on the physical
environment and for which there is no feasible method to
satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact.
ii. “Specific adverse impact” has the same meaning as in
Government Code Section 65589.5(d)(2): “a significant,
quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on
objective, identified written public health or safety standards,
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2902
18
policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the
application was deemed complete” and does not include: (1)
inconsistency with the zoning ordinance or general plan land
use designation; or (2) the eligibility to claim a welfare
exemption under Revenue and Taxation Code Section
214(g).
iii. The building official may consult with and be assisted by
planning staff and others as necessary in making a finding of
specific, adverse impact.
(Ord. 1373 § 3, 2021)