Engage Brisbane - Brisbane's New Civic Engagement Platform to Share Your Thoughts

In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law over two dozen pieces of housing legislation focused on increasing affordable housing supply and strengthening accountability.

Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) took effect on January 1, 2022. Its provisions currently apply statewide, including within the City of Brisbane. SB 9 allows homeowners in single-family zoning districts (the R-1 and R-BA zoning districts), to either add an additional unit on their lot (two-unit development) or subdivide their lot into 2 lots (urban lot split), subject to certain restrictions and SB 9 qualifying criteria. In order to reduce the impacts of State-mandated requirements, the City's draft ordinance (2024-RZ-1) proposes a 25-foot height limit within the normal setback area (reduction from the current height limit of 35 feet in the R-BA District and the 30-foot height limit in the R-1 District).

In addition, the City is requiring one (1) off-street parking space (not within a garage but either uncovered or covered by a carport).

No development permits have been approved to-date for an SB 9 application.

Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) also became effective on January 1, 2022. It requires the City to allow for increased floor area ratios (FARs) for multi-family developments of three (3) units or more. This bill only applies to Brisbane zoning districts R-2 and R-3, with the City's draft ordinance (2024-RZ-2) modifying the FARs in these two districts to be consistent with State law.

We welcome your feedback on two local ordinance matters via our brand new citizen engagement platform, Engage Brisbane (brisbaneca.org/engage) For more information about these draft ordinances, visit brisbaneca.org/draftordinances.