On January 1, 2022, the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act (SB 9) went into effect in California. SB 9 is a state law intended to alleviate the housing crisis and provide more housing choices in our communities.

Under SB 9, cities must expand single-family zoning to allow both duplexes and urban lot splits (i.e., two separate homes on a single lot). The law establishes minimum standards for these projects; however, cities can adopt local regulations to go beyond the minimum standards (e.g., size, height, parking).

The City of Walnut Creek adopted interim regulations when SB 9 first went into effect. On October 17, 2023, the City Council rescinded the interim regulations and adopted permanent SB 9 regulations, which went into effect on November 17, 2023. The City has also prepared a user-friendly handout explaining the new SB 9 regulations.