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The Center Square

The Center Square

California quietly ended single family zoning, allowing four homes per lot

The Center Square
Summary
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Fewer than 500 homes have been built since a 2021 law, SB 9 , was passed allowing owners to split their single family home lots in two , and build two homes on each new lot.

Cities quickly passed restrictions to SB 9 properties, such a Temple City’s requirement that 1,000 square foot courtyards be constructed to create distance between housing units.

Redondo Beach won a lawsuit against the law when a judge found it cannot apply to charter cities.

Voters of Huntington Beach , a charter city, passed a law requiring voter identification for local elections. A judge recently upheld Huntington Beach’s law, citing the municipal affairs doctrine in the state constitution and lack of conflict with any state law. However, the judge’s ruling also forewarned that a new state law banning voter identification requirements — taking effect on January 1, 2025 — could bring the matter back to court, and set new precedent in the battle between the state government and charter cities attempting to hold on to their constitutional powers..