Manhattan Beach · Building on your lot

Lot splits under SB 9 in Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach's own rules on lot splits under sb 9, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Manhattan Beach's code says

Manhattan Beach code What Manhattan Beach's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Each new parcel must be at least 40% of the existing parcel. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits. § 11.40.040 · code text The resulting parcels shall not be smaller than forty percent (40%) of the existing parcel proposed for subdivision and must be at least one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet in area.
Minimum new lot size	At least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to each parcel from an urban lot split. § 11.40.040 · code text The resulting parcels shall not be smaller than forty percent (40%) of the existing parcel proposed for subdivision and must be at least one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet in area.
Setbacks	At least 4 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Applies to new units, including attached garages. § 10.78.040 · code text New units, inclusive of attached garages, shall be built no less than four (4) feet from the side and rear property lines, and comply with the underlying zoning district front setback requirement.
Standards	Detached primary units at least 10 feet apart. Applies: Applies to detached primary homes, measured from each other. § 10.78.040 · code text Detached primary dwelling units shall have a minimum ten-foot building separation from each other. Only on parcels in the RS single-family residential zone. Applies: Applies to two-unit projects under this chapter. § 10.78.030 · code text The project is located on a parcel within the RS Single-Family Residential Zoning District. At most 2 primary homes. Applies: Applies to an RS-zoned lot that has not had an urban lot split. § 10.78.040 · code text A maximum of two (2) primary dwelling units may be permitted on an RS zoned lot that has not undergone an urban lot split pursuant to Chapter 11.40. At most 4 total units. Applies: Applies to a lot that has not had an urban lot split, counting ADUs and JADUs. § 10.78.040 · code text A maximum of four (4) total units shall be permitted on a lot that has not undergone an urban lot split pursuant to Chapter 11.40, inclusive of ADUs and JADUs. At most 2 units. Applies: Applies to a lot created by an urban lot split, counting ADUs and JADUs. § 10.78.040 · code text A maximum of two (2) units shall be permitted on a lot that has been created by an urban lot split pursuant to Chapter 11.40, inclusive of ADUs and JADUs. Each new lot at least 20 feet wide. Applies: Applies to urban lot splits. § 11.40.040 · code text The width of any lot resulting from an urban lot split shall not be less than twenty (20) feet wide. New driveways at most 10 feet wide. Applies: Applies to new interior lots from a split without alley access and with 30 feet of frontage or less. § 11.40.040 · code text New driveways proposed for parcels created by an urban lot split on interior lots without alley access are limited to a maximum width of ten (10) feet if the proposed frontage of the new parcel is thirty (30) feet or less. New unit height follows the RS zone and Area District rules. § 10.78.040 · code text New units shall be subject to the RS base district and Area District regulations as defined in Section 10.12.030. No more than 25% of an existing home's exterior walls may be demolished. Applies: Unless no tenant has lived on the site in the last 3 years. § 10.78.040 · code text Residential development pursuant to Government Code Section 65852.21 may not involve the demolition of more than twenty-five (25) percent of the existing exterior structure walls of an existing dwelling, unless the site has not been occupied by a tenant in the last three (3) years. The city must waive any standard that would block 2 primary units or units of at least 800 square feet. § 10.78.040 · code text The Community Development Director shall approve an exception to any of the objective standards specified herein that would have the effect of physically precluding the construction of up to two (2) primary dwelling units or that would physically preclude either of the two (2) primary dwelling units from being at least 800 square feet in floor area.
Owner occupancy	At least 3 years. Applies: The owner signs an affidavit to live in one unit as principal residence; community land trusts and qualified nonprofits are exempt. § 11.40.040 · code text the owner of the property for which an urban lot split is proposed shall sign an affidavit stating that the owner intends to occupy one (1) of the housing units as their principal residence for at least three (3) years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split;
Parking	1 enclosed or partly enclosed parking space. Applies: Applies to each new unit under this chapter. § 10.78.040 · code text One (1) enclosed or partially enclosed parking space is required for each new unit created pursuant to the regulations in this chapter, except when the parcel upon which the unit is created is located within one (1) block of a car share vehicle or within one-half (½) mile walking distance to: No parking space required. Applies: Applies within 1 block of a car share vehicle or a half-mile walk of high-quality transit or a major transit stop. § 10.78.040 · code text One (1) enclosed or partially enclosed parking space is required for each new unit created pursuant to the regulations in this chapter, except when the parcel upon which the unit is created is located within one (1) block of a car share vehicle or within one-half (½) mile walking distance to:

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Frequently asked questions

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Manhattan Beach?

Manhattan Beach's code: Each new parcel must be at least 40% of the existing parcel. (Applies to urban lot splits.) (§ 11.40.040); At least 1,200 square feet. (Applies to each parcel from an urban lot split.) (§ 11.40.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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