(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow and appropriately regulate urban lot splits in accordance with Cal. Gov’t Code § 66411.7.
(B) Definition. An URBAN LOT SPLIT means the subdivision of an existing, legally subdivided lot into two lots in accordance with the requirements of this section.
(C) Application.
(1) Only individual property owners may apply for an urban lot split. INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER means a natural person holding fee title individually or jointly in the person's own name or a beneficiary of a trust that holds fee title. INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER does not include any corporation or corporate person of any kind (partnership, LP, LLC, C corp, S corp, etc.) except for a community land trust (as defined by Cal. Rev. & Tax Code § 402.1(a)(11)(C)(ii)) or a qualified nonprofit corporation (as defined by Cal. Rev. & Tax Code § 214.15).
(2) An application for an urban lot split shall be submitted on the town's approved form. Only a complete application will be considered. The town will inform the applicant in writing of any incompleteness within 30 days after the application is submitted.
(3) The town may establish a fee to recover its costs for adopting, implementing, and enforcing this section of the code, in accordance with applicable law. The Town Council may establish and change the fee by resolution. The fee shall be paid with the application.
(D) Approval.
(1) An application for a parcel map for an urban lot split is approved or denied ministerially, by the Director of Planning and Building Services, without discretionary review.
(2) A parcel map for an urban lot split shall be ministerially approved if it complies with all the requirements of Chapter 16.20 (Parcel Maps) of this Title with the exception of § 16.20.080(D) "Approval by Town Council", which is herein waived for applications processed under this chapter.
(3) The approval shall require the owner and applicant to hold the town harmless from all claims and damages related to the approval and its subject matter.
(4) The approval shall require the owner and applicant to reimburse the town for all costs of enforcement, including attorneys' fees and costs associated with enforcing the requirements of this code.
(E) Requirements. An urban lot split shall satisfy each of the following requirements:
(1) Map Act compliance.
(a) The urban lot split shall conform to all applicable objective requirements of the Subdivision Map Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 66410 et seq.), including implementing requirements as set forth in Title 16, except as otherwise expressly provided in this section.
(b) If an urban lot split violates any part of the Subdivision Map Act, the town's subdivision regulations, including this section, or any other legal requirement:
1. The buyer or grantee of a lot that is created by the urban lot split has all the remedies available under the Subdivision Map Act, including but not limited to an action for damages or to void the deed, sale, or contract.
2. The town has all the remedies available to it under the Subdivision Map Act, including but not limited to the following:
a. An action to enjoin any attempt to sell, lease, or finance the property.
b. An action for other legal, equitable, or summary remedy, such as declaratory and injunctive relief.
c. Criminal prosecution, punishable by imprisonment in county jail or state prison for up to one year, by a fine of up to $10,000, or both; or a misdemeanor.
d. Record a notice of violation.
e. Withhold any or all future permits and approvals.
(c) Notwithstanding § 66411.1 of the Subdivision Map Act, no dedication of rights-of-way or construction of offsite improvements is required for an urban lot split.
(2) Zone. The lot to be split is in a single-family residential zone. For purposes of this section, a single-family residential zone is a zone where the only residential use that is allowed as a primary use is a single residential dwelling on a lot.
(3) Lot location.
(a) The lot to be split is not located on a site that is any of the following:
1. Prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or land that is zoned or designated for agricultural protection or preservation by the voters.
2. A wetland.
3. Within a very high fire hazard severity zone, unless the site complies with all fire-hazard mitigation measures required by existing building standards.
4. A hazardous waste site that has not been cleared for residential use.
5. Within a delineated earthquake fault zone, unless all development on the site complies with applicable seismic protection building code standards.
6. Within a 100-year flood hazard area, unless the site has either:
a. been subject to a Letter of Map Revision prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and issued to the local jurisdiction, or
b. meets Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements necessary to meet minimum flood plain management criteria of the National Flood Insurance Program.
7. Within a regulatory floodway, unless all development on the site has received a no-rise certification.
8. Land identified for conservation in an adopted natural community conservation plan, habitat conservation plan, or other adopted natural resource protection plan.
9. Habitat for protected species.
10. Land under conservation easement.
(b) The purpose of division (E)(3)(a) above is merely to summarize the requirements of Cal. Gov’t Code § 65913.4(a)(6)(B)-(K). (See Cal. Gov’t Code § 66411.7(a)(3)(C).)
(4) Not historic. The lot to be split shall not be a historic property or within a historic district that is included on the State Historic Resources Inventory. Nor may the lot be or be within a site that is designated by ordinance as a town or county landmark or as a historic property or district.
(5) No prior urban lot split.
(a) The lot to be split was not established through a prior urban lot split.
(b) The lot to be split is not adjacent to any lot that was established through a prior urban lot split by the owner of the lot to be split or by any person acting in concert with the owner.
(6) No impact on protected housing.
(a) The urban lot split shall not require or include the demolition or alteration of any of the following types of housing ("protected housing"):
1. Housing that is income-restricted for households of moderate, low, or very low income.
2. Housing that is subject to any form of rent or price control through a public entity's valid exercise of its policy power.
3. Housing, or a lot that used to have housing, that has been withdrawn from rental or lease under the Ellis Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 7060-7060.7) at any time in the 15 years prior to submission of the urban lot split application.
4. Housing that has been occupied by a tenant in the last three years.
(b) The application for the urban lot split shall include a sworn affidavit from the applicant and the owner of the property that the urban lot split will not demolish or alter protected housing as set forth in division (E)(6)(a)1. - 4. above. The town may require additional evidence of the applicant and owner as necessary to determine compliance with this requirement.
(7) Lot size.
(a) The lot to be split shall be at least 2,400 square feet.
(b) The resulting lots shall each be at least 1,200 square feet.
(c) Each of the resulting lots shall be between 60 percent and 40 percent of the original lot area.
(8) Easements.
(a) The owner shall enter into an easement agreement with each public-service provider to establish easements that are sufficient for the provision of public services and facilities to each of the resulting lots.
(b) Each easement shall be shown on the parcel map.
(c) Copies of unrecorded and recorded easement agreements shall be submitted with the application. All easement agreements shall be recorded against the property prior to approval of the parcel map.
(d) If an easement is recorded and the project is not completed, making the easement moot, the property owner may request termination of the parcel map, and the city will provide a notice of termination of the easement and the parcel map, which the owner may record.
(9) Lot access.
(a) Each resulting lot shall adjoin the public right of way.
(b) Each resulting lot shall have frontage on the public right of way of at least 20 feet.
(10) Unit standards.
(a) Quantity. No more than two dwelling units of any kind may be built on a lot that results from an urban lot split. For purposes of this paragraph, "unit" means any dwelling unit, including, but not limited to, a primary dwelling unit, a unit created under Chapter 17.049 (Two-Unit Projects), an accessory dwelling unit, or a junior accessory dwelling unit (Chapter 17.048).
(b) Unit size.
1. The total floor area of each primary dwelling that is developed on a resulting lot shall be
a. less than or equal to 800 and
b. more than 500 square feet.
2. A primary dwelling that was legally established prior to the urban lot split and that is larger than 800 square feet is limited to the lawful floor area at the time of the urban lot split. It may not be expanded.
3. A primary dwelling that was legally established prior to the urban lot split and that is smaller than 800 square feet may be expanded to 800 square feet after the urban lot split.
(c) Height restrictions.
1. On a resulting lot that is larger than 2,000 square feet, no new primary dwelling unit may exceed a single story or 16 feet in height, measured from grade to peak of the structure.
2. On a resulting lot that is smaller than 2,000 square feet, no new primary dwelling unit may exceed two stories or 22 feet in height. Any portion of a new primary dwelling that exceeds one story shall be stepped back by an additional five feet from the ground floor; no balcony, deck, eave, or other portion of the second story may project into the stepback.
3. No rooftop deck is permitted on any new or remodeled dwelling or structure on a lot resulting from an urban lot split.
(d) Lot coverage. No resulting lot subject to this division may result in the total lot coverage of the resulting lot to exceed 35 percent. This lot coverage standard is only enforced to the extent that it does not prevent two primary dwelling units on the lot at 800 square feet each.
(e) Open space. No dwelling unit on a resulting lot subject to division (E)(10)(d) may cause the open space area to fall below 300 square feet per unit. "Open space area" shall not include any required yard or setback, required building separation, access area, or area with dimensions of less than ten feet or slope of greater than ten percent, subject to division (E)(10)(d) above. This open space standard is only enforced to the extent that it does not prevent two primary dwelling units on the lot at 800 square feet each.
(f) Setbacks.
1. Generally. All setbacks shall conform to those objective setbacks that are imposed through the underlying zone.
2. Exceptions. Notwithstanding division (E)(10)(f) above:
a. Existing structures. No setback is required for an existing legally established structure or for a new structure that is constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing legally established structure.
b. The setbacks imposed by the underlying zone shall yield to the degree necessary to avoid physically precluding the construction of up to two units on the lot or either of the two units from being at least 800 square feet in floor area; but in no event may any structure be less than four feet from a side or rear property line.
3. Front setback area. Notwithstanding any other part of this code, dwellings that are constructed after an urban lot split shall be at least ten feet from the front property lines. The front setback area shall:
a. be kept free from all structures greater than three feet high;
b. be at least 50 percent landscaped with landscaping on the FireSafe Marin Fire-Smart Plant list, drought-tolerant landscaping is encouraged, with vegetation and irrigation plans approved by a licensed landscape architect;
c. allow for vehicular and fire-safety access to the front structure.
(g) Parking. Each new primary dwelling unit that is built on a lot after an urban lot split shall have at least one off-street parking space per unit unless one of the following applies:
1. The lot is located within one-half mile walking distance of either
a. a corridor with fixed route bus service with service intervals no longer than 15 minutes during peak commute hours or
b. a site that contains the intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.
2. The site is located within one block of a permanently designated car-share vehicle location.
(h) Architecture.
1. If there is a legal primary dwelling on the lot that was established before the urban lot split, any new primary dwelling unit shall match the existing primary dwelling unit in exterior materials, color, and dominant roof pitch. The dominant roof slope is the slope shared by the largest portion of the roof.
2. If there is no legal primary dwelling on the lot before the urban lot split, and if two primary dwellings are developed on the lot, the dwellings shall match each other in exterior materials, color, and dominant roof pitch. The dominant roof slope is the slope shared by the largest portion of the roof.
3. All exterior lighting shall be downward directed, shielded to prevent direct offsite illumination, the minimum number of fixtures necessary to provide pathway, stair/step, and entry illumination, and a maximum of two foot candles lighting intensity. No landscape lighting is allowed.
4. No window or door of a dwelling that is constructed on the lot after the urban lot split may have a direct line of sight to an adjoining residential property. Fencing, landscaping, or privacy glass may be used to provide screening and prevent a direct line of sight.
5. If a dwelling is constructed on a lot after an urban lot split and any portion of the dwelling is less than 30 feet from a property line that is not a public right-of-way line, then all windows and doors in that portion shall either be (for windows) with the bottom of the glass at least six feet above the finished floor, or (for windows and for doors) utilize frosted or obscure glass.
(i) Landscaping.
1. Evergreen landscape screening shall be planted and maintained between each dwelling and adjacent lots (but not rights of way) as follows:
a. At least one 15-gallon size plant shall be provided for every five linear feet of exterior wall.
b. Plant specimens must be at least six feet tall when installed. As an alternative, a solid fence of at least six feet in height may be installed.
c. All landscaping shall be on FireSafe Marin Fire-Smart Plant list and is encouraged to be drought-tolerant.
d. No undesirable tree species as defined by § 8.36.020 shall be planted.
e. Any heritage tree, as defined by § 8.36.020, removed shall require two 36" box trees FireSafe Marin Fire-Smart Plant list to be planted on the lot prior to final inspection.
(j) Nonconforming conditions. An existing legal nonconformity shall not require any correction prior to approval of an urban lot split.
(k) Utilities.
1. Each primary dwelling unit on the resulting lots shall have its own direct utility connection to the utility service provider.
2. Each primary dwelling unit on the resulting lots that is or that is proposed to be connected to an onsite wastewater treatment system shall comply with current county wastewater treatment system requirements for new parcels.
(l) Building and safety. All structures built on the lot shall comply with all current local building standards. An urban lot split is a change of use.
(11) Fire-hazard mitigation measures.
(a) A lot shall comply with each of the following fire-hazard mitigation measures:
1. All enclosed structures on the site shall have fire sprinklers.
2. Windows in any portion of a dwelling with less than a five-foot setback to a property line shall be equipped with heat activated self-closing shutters.
3. All sides of all dwellings on the site shall be within a 150-foot hose-pull distance from either the public right of way or of an onsite fire hydrant or standpipe.
4. A lot shall have direct access to a public right of way with a paved street with a minimum width consisting of a net horizontal unobstructed clearance of not less than 20 feet exclusive of gutters, curbs, and shoulders, that connects to a designated evacuation route.
(b) Prior to submitting an application for an urban lot split, the applicant shall obtain a certificate of compliance with all applicable fire-hazard mitigation measures in accordance with this division (E)(11). The town or its authorized agent shall inspect the site, including all structures on the site, and certify as to its compliance. The certificate shall be included with the application. The applicant shall pay the town's costs for inspection. Failure to pay is grounds for denying the application.
(12) Separate conveyance.
(a) Within a resulting lot.
1. Primary dwelling units on a lot that is created by an urban lot split may not be owned or conveyed separately from each other.
2. Common interest developments, as defined by Cal. Civil Code § 4100, are not permitted on a lot that is created by an urban lot split.
3. All fee interest in a lot and all dwellings on the lot shall be held equally and undivided by all individual property owners.
(b) Between resulting lots. Separate conveyance of the resulting lots is permitted. If dwellings or other structures (such as garages) on different lots are adjacent or attached to each other, the urban lot split boundary may separate them for conveyance purposes if the structures meet building code safety standards, including but not limited to Chapter 8.04 and Chapter 15.04, and are sufficient to allow separate conveyance. If any attached structures span or will span the new lot line, the owner shall record appropriate covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R's), easements, or other documentation that is necessary to allocate rights and responsibility between the owners of the two lots.
(13) Regulation of uses.
(a) Residential-only. No non-residential use is permitted on any lot created by urban lot split.
(b) No short term rentals. No dwelling unit on a lot that is created by an urban lot split may be rented for a period of less than 30 days.
(c) Owner occupancy. The applicant for an urban lot split shall sign an affidavit stating that the applicant intends to occupy one of the dwelling units on one of the resulting lots as the applicant's principal residence for a minimum of three years after the urban lot split is approved.
(14) Notice of construction.
(a) At least 30 business days before starting any construction of a structure on a lot created by an urban lot split, the property owner shall give written notice to all the owners of record of each of the adjacent residential parcels, which notice shall include the following information:
1. Notice that construction has been authorized,
2. The anticipated start and end dates for construction,
3. The hours of construction,
4. Contact information for the project manager (for construction-related complaints), and
5. Contact information for the Department of Planning and Building Services.
(b) This notice requirement does not confer a right on the noticed persons or on anyone else to comment on the project before permits are issued. Approval is ministerial. Under state law, the town has no discretion in approving or denying a particular project under this section. This notice requirement is purely to promote neighborhood awareness and expectation.
(15) Deed restriction. The owner shall record a deed restriction, acceptable to the town, that does each of the following:
(a) Expressly prohibits any rental of any dwelling on the property for a period of less than 30 days.
(b) Expressly prohibits any non-residential use of the lots created by the urban lot split.
(c) Expressly prohibits any separate conveyance of a primary dwelling on the property, any separate fee interest, and any common interest development within the lot.
(d) States that the property is formed by an urban lot split and is therefore subject to the town's urban lot split regulations, including all applicable limits on dwelling size and development.
(F) Specific adverse impacts.
(1) Notwithstanding anything else in this section, the town may deny an application for an urban lot split if the Building Official makes a written finding, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the project would have a "specific, adverse impact" on either public health and safety or on the physical environment and for which there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact.
(2) "Specific adverse impact" has the same meaning as in Cal. Gov’t Code § 65589.5(d)(2): "a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete" and does not include (1) inconsistency with the zoning ordinance or general plan land use designation or (2) the eligibility to claim a welfare exemption under Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code section 214(g).
(3) The Building Official may consult with and be assisted by planning staff and others as necessary in making a finding of specific, adverse impact.
(Ord. 860, passed 12-1-2021)