Lot splits in Corte Madera may soon get a little less painful. Last Tuesday, the town’s Planning Commission voted unanimously to send a package of tweaks to its lot-splitting rules up to the Town Council, saying the local code has to be cleaned up to match new state limits on how cities can regulate Senate Bill 9 projects. The proposal trims pieces of local review and technical red tape that staff say have slowed or even derailed several SB 9 lot-split applications.
Under the recommended changes, design review would be eliminated for SB 9 projects that are 1,200 square feet or smaller, a local fire-suppression requirement would be removed, and height and setback rules would be adjusted that critics say have made many plans pencil out only on paper, according to the Marin Independent Journal. Supporters at the hearing said the point is to cut unnecessary cost and delay for homeowners trying to use the state’s lot-split option.
Why the Town Is Changing the Rules
Town staff say the overhaul is a direct response to new state law that further tightens SB 9 implementation and limits what “objective” zoning and design standards cities can impose on lot splits. As explained in the town’s public notice, SB 450 took effect on Jan. 1, 2025 and requires Corte Madera to amend Titles 17, 18 and 22 of its municipal code so that SB 9 regulations are no more restrictive than the standards that already apply in the underlying zoning district, according to the Town of Corte Madera. Planning staff have framed the draft ordinance as a housekeeping measure to sync local procedures with state law rather than a brand-new review regime.
Local Reaction and Backlog
Since SB 9 kicked in, Corte Madera has received 11 applications for SB 9 lot splits, with 10 approved and one still under review, the Marin Independent Journal reported. Homeowners say the process can be expensive and slow, and one applicant, Corinne Grant, told the paper that splitting her lot dragged on for more than three years and cost roughly $50,000, which is hardly the quick backyard project many hope for. Other residents are skeptical of the broader idea, not just the process; longtime resident Lucinda Smith told the outlet, “this lot splitting ... I don’t know how it can do much to help with the housing crisis.”
What Happens Next
With the Planning Commission’s blessing, the draft ordinance now heads to the Town Council for a publicly noticed hearing and another round of review. Town materials state that the future council hearing will be formally noticed and that staff reports are typically posted in advance. The Planning Division lists principal planner Martha Battaglia as the point person for the ordinance, according to the Town of Corte Madera.
Corte Madera’s move is part of a wider statewide push to strip out local discretionary hurdles for small SB 9 urban lot splits. Regional guidance lays out SB 9’s basic ground rules for ministerial urban lot splits and two-unit projects for cities and property owners. For background on how the law works and implementation tools, see ABAG.
