Zoning Glossary

Urban Lot Split

An urban lot split is the ministerially approved division of a qualifying single-family residential parcel in an urbanized area into two separate, independently saleable parcels. California's SB 9 established urban lot splits as a by-right mechanism, allowing qualifying property owners to create two legal parcels from a single-family lot without discretionary review or public hearings — provided the original lot and resulting parcels meet the objective standards specified in the law. After a lot split is recorded, the two resulting parcels are separate legal properties that can each be developed, mortgaged, and sold independently.

ADU

In Practice

The urban lot split pathway is distinct from building an ADU: an ADU remains on the same legal parcel as the primary dwelling and generally cannot be sold separately, while an urban lot split creates two fully independent properties. The primary financial benefit of an urban lot split is the ability to sell or develop the second parcel as an independent transaction. Eligibility requirements — including minimum lot size, location within an urbanized area, and exclusion from sensitive or protected zones — must be confirmed before planning a lot split project.

Source: Can I Sell My ADU Separately? SB 9 Lot Split Explained · Verified June 1, 2026

Related Terms

SB 9AB 1033Accessory Dwelling Unit

Related Guides

Can I Sell My ADU Separately? SB 9 Lot Split ExplainedLot Splitting Laws: Which States Allow It?

Source: PropertyZoned Zoning Guide — Can I Sell My ADU Separately? SB 9 Lot Split Explained. Last verified June 1, 2026.

Last updated: June 1, 2026
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Urban Lot Split — Zoning Term Definition | PropertyZoned