On January 1, 2022, the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act (i.e., Senate Bill 9 or SB 9) went into effect. Property owners in single-family neighborhoods now have the right to add a duplex to their property or split their lot. Previous legislation permitted owners to create an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit as of right, with a maximum of four units on an existing single-family parcel. Owners with sufficient land could split the lot through a ministerial process, rather than obtaining a separate local approval, and then own up to two units on each lot. The new legislation was energetically debated, with advocates staking out extreme positions along not-in-my-backyard versus yes-in-my-backyard lines. This report explores whether these changes will be groundbreaking or gradual and how the City of Los Angeles can best implement the law to amplify its benefits while mitigating negative consequences for owners, residents, neighborhoods, and the city as a whole.
We reviewed extensive literature and spoke with local and national experts on accessory dwelling units and two-to-four-unit buildings (or, collectively, low-rise infill housing). Chapter 1 of this report provides an overview of housing need in Los Angeles and scans the policy issues raised by SB 9 and prior laws. In chapter 2, we review the experiences of jurisdictions that have implemented similar legislation, providing lessons for California and Los Angeles. Chapter 3 provides an in-depth view of where low-rise infill housing exists now in Los Angeles, focusing on the racial, ethnic, and economic landscape that SB 9 will build upon. Chapter 4 looks at barriers to financing for owners and homebuyers, showing that zoning changes alone are not sufficient for SB 9 to increase the housing supply. Although each section includes analysis and recommendations, chapter 5 pulls out overarching recommendations and takeaways for policymakers.
Casita Coalition referenced on Page 33:
Although passage of state and local zoning reforms provides potential affordable housing options, local governments and their nonprofit partners must still provide direct support (e.g., information and technical assistance) to facilitate the effective, efficient, and equitable implementation of these new low-rise infill development policies and programs… Beyond local government, web-based clearinghouses and technical assistance pilots; statewide nonprofits, such as California’s Casita Coalition and real estate, design, and development firms such as Purgula and Symbium provide homeowners and developers resource guides, ADU information, and consulting services that span multiple cities and states.