Burbank Remodeling Contractor handles SB 9 duplex conversions in Burbank, California. Senate Bill 9 lets owners of qualifying single-family lots create a second primary dwelling, and in some cases split the lot, through a ministerial process rather than a discretionary hearing. It is one of the least-understood options available to Burbank homeowners and one of the largest in terms of what it does to a property's value.
The construction can look like several different things: splitting an existing house into two units, adding a second detached house, or both. What is possible depends on the lot, the existing structure and the local objective standards. Call (747) 330-0305 and we will run the feasibility before you spend money on drawings.
What SB 9 Allows on a Burbank Single-Family Lot
Broadly, SB 9 covers two separate rights. One is building a second primary unit on a single-family parcel, giving you two homes on one lot. The other is an urban lot split, dividing the parcel into two, each of which can then hold units of its own. Cities process qualifying applications ministerially, which means no discretionary hearing and no neighbor appeal on the entitlement.
There are real limits. The lot has to meet minimum size and the resulting parcels have to meet proportion rules. Properties in historic districts, certain hazard zones and some other categories are excluded. Owner-occupancy and rental-term conditions apply to lot splits. These are the questions to answer first, and they are answerable from the parcel data before anyone designs anything.
Three Ways an SB 9 Project Gets Built
Splitting the Existing House Into Two Units
Where the floor plan cooperates, an existing house can be divided into two dwellings with separate entrances, separate kitchens and a fire and sound rated separation between them. The cheapest path, and it works best on larger houses with a natural division.
Adding a Second Detached Home
Building a full second house in the rear yard rather than an ADU. Unlike an ADU it is a primary unit, which changes what can be done with it and how it appraises. It also means full new construction with its own foundation, service and sewer connection.
Lot Split and Build
Dividing the parcel and building on the new lot. The most involved path, requiring a parcel map alongside the construction permits, and the one that produces two separately saleable properties at the end.
Fire Separation, Utilities and Where SB 9 Projects Get Expensive
Two dwellings on one lot, or two units inside one building, brings requirements that a single-family remodel never touches. The separation between units needs a rated assembly, both for fire and for the acoustic performance that makes the arrangement livable. Each unit needs its own compliant egress and its own smoke and carbon monoxide protection.
Utilities are the budget item that surprises people. A second primary unit typically wants its own electrical service and meter, its own water service, and a sewer connection with proper fall. On an older Burbank lot with a shallow clay lateral, that underground work can be a substantial share of the project.
The entitlement being ministerial does not make the construction simple. SB 9 removes the hearing, not the building code.
Is an SB 9 Project Better Than an ADU?
For a lot of Burbank owners, an ADU is the simpler and cheaper answer, and we will say so when it is. An ADU is well understood, has clear size limits, does not require a lot split and is faster to permit.
SB 9 becomes the better option when the goal is a second full-size home rather than a small accessory unit, or when splitting the lot to sell one half is on the table. It is also worth considering when an ADU's size limits would waste a large yard. The right answer comes out of the numbers on your specific parcel, and the feasibility study is cheap compared to building the wrong thing.
Talk to a Burbank general contractor about your project
Tell us what you have in mind and we will give you a straight answer on scope, permits, timeline and price.
Call (747) 330-0305Frequently asked questions
Does my Burbank lot qualify for SB 9?
It depends on lot size, zoning, whether the property is in an excluded category such as a historic district or certain hazard zones, and the rental history of the property. The determination is made against objective criteria rather than a judgment call, which means we can check it from the parcel record before you spend anything on design.
Can I sell one of the units separately?
Only if you do a lot split, which creates two separate legal parcels. Building a second unit without splitting the lot gives you two homes under one ownership, which you can rent but not sell individually. Which of those you want should drive the approach from the start.
Do I have to live on the property?
For an urban lot split, state law imposes an owner-occupancy commitment on the applicant. Building a second unit without a lot split does not carry that requirement. Rental terms are also restricted, with short-term rentals below a minimum length generally prohibited on SB 9 units.
How long does an SB 9 project take?
Because the approval is ministerial, entitlement is faster than a discretionary process, commonly a few months for plan review. Construction is the longer half: a second detached home realistically runs six to twelve months. A lot split adds parcel map processing that runs in parallel with design.