ORD 695 ORDINANCE NO. 695
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING THE RANCHO
PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE (RPVMC) CHAPTER 16.40
(URBAN LOT SPLITS) OF TITLE 16 (SUBDIVISIONS) AND
CHAPTER 17.09 (SECOND UNITS AND TWO-UNIT
DEVELOPMENTS IN SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES) OF TITLE 17
(ZONING)TO EXEMPT THE EQUESTRIAN OVERLAY DISTRICT
(Q) FROM THE APPLICABILITY OF THESE REGULATIONS
PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 684 (SB 684), AND DETERMINE
THE CODE AMENDMENT IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CASE NO. PLCA2025-0002).
WHEREAS, on December 9, 1975, The City of Rancho Palos Verdes established
an Equestrian Overlay (Q) District to permit horsekeeping with the adoption of Ordinance
No. 78; and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB)
9 into law with new regulations going into effect on January 1, 2022. SB 9 allows a
proposed two-unit housing development within single-family residential zones to be
considered ministerially, without discretionary review or hearing, if the proposed housing
meets certain basic requirements established by the State, and limits the requirements a
local agency could impose in approving such development if the municipality adopted
local regulations pertaining to SB9. The law also requires a local agency to ministerially
approve the subdivision of a parcel in single-family zones into two parcels, referred to as
an urban lot split. Ultimately, an SB9 eligible parcel could result in up to four units being
developed on a single-family zoned lot; and
WHEREAS, on December 21, 2021, in preparation for the enaction of the State's
SB9 regulations, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 656U, by urgency ordinance,
thereby enacting SB9 related regulations to include the allowed local standards as
Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) and Chapter 17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit
Developments in Single-Family Zones); and
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2022, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 663, by
regular ordinance, which amended Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits), Chapter 17.09
(Second Units and Two-Unit Developments in Single- Family Zones) and Chapter 17.96
(Definitions) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, thereby establishing
regulations and definitions for Urban Lot Splits and for Second Units and Two-Unit
Developments in Single- Family Residential Zones; and
WHEREAS, on October 11, 2023, Senate Bill (SB) 684 was signed into law which
amended the provisions related to SB9 regulations (Government Code §§ 65852.21 and
66411.7 pertaining to the development of urban dwelling units and urban lot splits,
respectively). Specifically, SB684 created an exemption to the provisions of SB9, for a
site located within a single-family residential horsekeeping zone adopted prior to January
1, 1994, and the elimination of an urban dwelling unit development standard; and
II
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2025, the City Council initiated code amendment
proceedings to update the Zoning Code as it pertains to SB9 regulations for consistency
with SB 684 provisions; and
WHEREAS, on October 14, 2025, the Planning Commission adopted P.C.
Resolution No. 2025-07, recommending that the City Council adopt the same; and
WHEREAS, on October 30, 2025, a Public Notice was published in the Palos
Verdes Peninsula News, providing notice of a public hearing before the City Council on
November 18, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2025, the City Council held a public hearing on this
Ordinance and all testimony received was made a part of the public record; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has duly considered all information presented to it,
including the Planning Commission findings, P.C. Resolution No. 2025-07, written staff
reports, and any testimony provided at the public hearing; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality
Act ("CEQA"), because the code amendments described below are not a "project"as that
term is defined by California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Guidelines as this
ordinance constitutes general policy and procedure making (14 CCR §§ 15060 (c)(3),
15378); alternatively, the code amendments are exempt from CEQA'S requirements
because there is no possibility that this Ordinance or its implementation would have a
significant negative effect on the environment (14 CCR § 15061 (b)(3)); and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of the Ordinance have been
met.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The foregoing Recitals are true and correct and are incorporated
herein by reference.
Section 2. The City Council determines this Ordinance is exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") because the code amendments described
below are not a "project" as that term is defined by California Environmental Quality Act
("CEQA") Guidelines as this ordinance constitutes general policy and procedure making
(14 CCR §§ 15060 (c)(3), 15378); alternatively, the code amendments are exempt from
CEQA'S requirements because there is no possibility that this Ordinance or its
implementation would have a significant negative effect on the environment (14 CCR §
15061 (b)(3)).
Ordinance No. 695
Page 2 of 4
Section 3. RPVMC Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) of Title 16 (Subdivision's) •
and Chapter 17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit Developments in Single-Family Zones)
of Title 17 (Zoning) respectively to read as follows:
Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) of Title 16 (Subdivisions)
The proposed Code Amendment would add section 16.40.065 — Limitation
applicable to Equestrian Overlay (Q) District to read, in its entirety, as
follows:
"Urban Lot Splits shall be prohibited in the Equestrian Overlay(Q) District pursuant
to California Government Code Section 66499.41(h)(2) as may be amended."
Chapter 17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit Developments in Single-Family Zones)
of Title 17 (Zoning)
The proposed Code Amendment would add section 17.09.095. - Limitation
applicable to Equestrian Overlay (Q) District to read, in its entirety, as
follows:
"Second Single-Family Dwellings shall be prohibited in the Equestrian Overlay(Q)
District pursuant to California Government Code Section 66499.41(h)(2) as may
be amended."
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph,
sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or
circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of
competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses or phrases of this Ordinance, or its application to any other person or
circumstance. The City Council declares that it would have adopted each section,
subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase hereof, irrespective of the
fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences,
clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.
Section 5. Certification and Posting. The City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance
to be posted in three (3) public places in the City within fifteen (15) days after its passage,
in accordance with the provisions of Section 36933 of the Government Code. The City
Clerk shall further certify the adoption and posting of this Ordinance, and shall cause this
Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of posting, to be entered in the Book
of Ordinances of the Council of this City.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall go into effect at 12:01 AM on
the 31st day after its passage on second reading.
Ordinance No 695
Page 3 of 4
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 2nd day of December, 2025.
P:ul Seo, V . 'or
ATTEST:
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
1, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify
that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the
foregoing Ordinance No. 695 passed first reading on November 18, 2025, was duly and
regularly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on
December 2, 2025, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call
vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Mayor Seo
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
e - _: Takaoka, City Clerk
Ordinance No 695
Page 4 of 4
CITY OF RA\CHO PALOS VERDES
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
The undersigned, being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
That at all times herein mentioned, she was and now is the City Clerk of the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes;
That on December 3, 2025, she caused to be posted the
following document entitled: ORDINANCE NO. 695, AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING THE RANCHO
PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE (RPVMC) CHAPTER
16.40 (URBAN LOT SPLITS) OF TITLE 16 (SUBDIVISIONS)
AND CHAPTER 17.09 (SECOND UNITS AND TWO-UNIT
DEVELOPMENTS IN SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES) OF TITLE 17
(ZONING) TO EXEMPT THE EQUESTRIAN OVERLAY
DISTRICT (Q) FROM THE APPLICABILITY OF THESE
REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 684(SB 684),
AND DETERMINE THE CODE AMENDMENT IS EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
(CASE NO. PLCA2025-0002), a copy of which is attached
hereto, in the following locations:
City Hall Ladera Linda Community Park
30940 Hawthorne Blvd. 32201 Forrestal Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes Rancho Palos Verdes
Hesse Park
29301 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes
I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing i5 a true and correct
affidavit of posting.
City Clerk