On January 1, 2022, California enacted SB 9, addressing the state's housing shortage. This law allows property owners and investors in the single-family zones to use their lots more efficiently by adding new units, dividing existing houses, or even splitting their lots into two.
“SB 9 is about opening the door for more families to pursue their version of the California Dream—whether that's building a home for an elderly parent, creating a new source of income, or buying that first house. It's about opportunity.”
Senator Toni Atkins,
author of SB 9
Key Benefits
Housing Options
Add extra units for rental income or extended family housing, regardless of property size.
Flexibility
Use your property for multigenerational living without major changes or moving.
Financial Stability
Boost your property value and build equity with additional units, which are especially valuable in high-cost housing regions like California.
Equity
Leverage your property’s equity by splitting the lot. You can either sell the new lot or develop additional housing to sell as a higher-priced package.
DEVELOPMENT
SCENARIOS
These examples illustrate some of the most common development scenarios and do not represent every possible lot/unit configuration.
Urban Lot Splits
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2 SFDs + 1 detached ADU
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2 SFDs + 1 JADU
Lot Split with two new rectangular parcels and a Single Family Dwelling (SFD) on each lot
Lot split with SFD and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) on one lot and an SFD and a detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on the other lot
Two Unit Developments
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Duplex + 1 detached ADU
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Duplex + 2 detached ADUs
Urban Lot Splits &
Two Unit Developments
Duplex on each lot
Duplex on one lot and 2 SFDs on one lot
WORK WITH US
Budget
Exceeding construction budgets is a common concern, but we prioritize cost-efficiency. From thorough research to close collaboration with engineers, we mitigate costly mistakes and achieve significant savings on materials and labor, all while delivering modern, visually appealing designs.
Time
Meeting deadlines is crucial for staying on budget, but it can be challenging amidst numerous project complexities. Our exclusive focus on SB9 projects allows us to effectively manage time and resources, ensuring consistent adherence to deadlines.
Permits
Obtaining approval for construction projects can be complex, especially with varying interpretations of the Senate Bill among cities. At Design Studio VOID, we handle the permit process for you, ensuring timely submissions and addressing jurisdictional inquiries to prevent delays.
OUR PROCESS
Needs + Options
Understanding your needs and exploring options early on is fundamental for a successful building project. Like a doctor diagnosing before treatment, we research everything necessary before moving to design, helping determine the best approach for your site, timeline, and budget.
Free Consultation
We'll evaluate your challenges, explore SB9 opportunities for your property, offer a clear roadmap, and if we're not the right fit, connect you with someone from our network. Leave with a clear plan and a better understanding of your property's potential.
Bidding + Construction
We help selecting a construction company, offering access to vetted contractors with relevant experience. We assist in reviewing bids, offering insights, and ensuring alignment with your project's needs and budget. During construction, our site observations ensure error detection and project oversight, preventing delays and ensuring alignment with plans and budget. This collaborative approach fosters a smoother process and successful project completion.
Design + Permitting
Equipped with the Needs + Options report, we craft designs to meet project scope and code requirements, refining them through close coordination with all consultants. We also lead the permitting process, ensuring compliance with regulations and securing necessary permits from local authorities.
California Dream
Start profiting and enjoying the advantages of the new law! Our team is here to make sure you do it the right way with advanced solutions and home experts alongside your journey of taking your power back as a homeowner in California.
Van Nuys
Single Family Residence Duplex and 2 ADUs
1,752 s.f. 4,600 s.f.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
TESTIMONIALS
WE COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER RESULT
We are so grateful we found the professionals at Design Studio VOID! They were the fifth firm we interviewed to help us design an addition and re-do our floor plan. We wanted someone who would be creative about how to maximize our living space and give our home a more updated feel. But we were worried about whether this could be done while respecting the style and keeping the budget within reach. Design Studio VOID did all of this, and in the end, we couldn't have asked for a better result. On top of it all, they were a pleasure to work with from start to finish and were super-responsive any time we had follow-up questions or concerns, even when the job was done!
Hossein Berenji,
Beverly Hills, CA
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