CC SR 20251202 H - SB9 Amendment
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 12/02/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider adopting Ordinance No. 695 to exempt the City’s Equestrian Overlay Districts
from Senate Bill 9 (SB9) regulations related to urban lot splits and second unit/two -unit
developments.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt ORDINANCE NO. 695, AN ORDINANCE 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).
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact since these code amendment proceedings,
which involve staff time, are budgeted annually in the Community Development
Department/Planning Division budget as personnel costs.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development
Jessica Bobbett, Senior Planner
REVIEWED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager CJ
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Ordinance No. 695 (Page A-1)
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BACKGROUND:
On September 2, 2025, the City Council initiated code amendment proceedings to update
the Zoning Code (Title 17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code ((RPVMC)) as it
pertains to SB 9 and SB 684 regulations in the City’s Equestrian Overlay District. The
staff report for this City Council action can be accessed here.
On October 14, 2025, the Planning Commission adopted P.C. Resolution No. 2025-07,
recommending that the City Council consider the proposed code amendments. The staff
report for this Planning Commission action can be accessed here. As part of the Planning
Commission’s discussion, clarification was requested if the proposed code amendments
would preclude property owners from subdividing their property. Staff clarified that should
a property owner wish to pursue a lot split, they can through the regular process outlined
in RPVMC 16.40 but not through the ministerial procedure allowed pursuant to SB 9.
On November 18, 2025, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 695 (Attachment A)
to exempt the City’s Equestrian Overlay Districts from the applicability of SB 9 regulations
pursuant SB 684. The staff report for this City Council action can be accessed here.
DISCUSSION:
This evening, Ordinance No. 695 is presented for its second reading and consideration
of adoption (Attachment A). If adopted, this Ordinance will go into effect on January 2,
2026.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 695 (Attachment A).
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendations, the following alternative action s are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not adopt Ordinance No. 695.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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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
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Ordinance No. ___
Page 2 of 4
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
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)).
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Ordinance No. ___
Page 3 of 4
Section 3. 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) 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.
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Ordinance No. ___
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 2nd day of December, 2025.
________________________________
David L. Bradley, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, 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: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
________________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
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