SB 9 Historic District Reform

This bill will make it easier to increase the number of homes – including duplexes – in single-family neighborhoods by allowing the California HOME Act (SB 9, 2021) to be used in historic districts, ending the abuse of historic preservation measures as a tool to block more homes.

The California HOME Act was passed in 2021 to legalize and streamline the development of duplexes and small-scale lot splits across California, including in historically exclusionary single-family neighborhoods. However, cities and individuals seeking to block new housing have successfully abused exceptions for historic districts in the bill, rendering it less useful for the purpose of building more homes.

This bill will allow the HOME Act to be used in historic districts as long as the development does not demolish an existing historic structure, allowing additional homes and duplexes to be built in more neighborhoods.

Updates

  • AB 1061 was introduced on February 20, 2025.

Authors

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva (AD 67)

Sponsors

  • California YIMBY

Resources