Lot splits under SB 9 in Redwood City: the local rules

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

What Redwood City's code says

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
How the lot may be divided	No more than 2 new lots of about equal area; neither smaller than 40% of the original lot. Applies: Applies in the RH or R-1 districts. § 30.76 · code text one (1) lot shall not be smaller than forty percent (40%) of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for the subdivision.
Minimum new lot size	Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. § 30.76 · code text Each newly created lot shall be no smaller than one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet.
Setbacks	Rear and side setbacks are 4 feet. Applies: Applies to required rear and side yards. § 30.76 · code text Notwithstanding, required rear and side yard setbacks shall equal four (4) feet, except that no setback shall be required for an existing legally created structure or a new structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing legally created structure. No setback is required. Applies: Applies to an existing legal structure or a new one built in the same place and to the same size. § 30.76 · code text no setback shall be required for an existing legally created structure or a new structure constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing legally created structure.
Standards	Up to 2 dwelling units per lot. Applies: Lot created through an urban lot split. § 30.76 · code text A lot created through a parcel map for an urban lot split is limited to development of up to two (2) dwelling units on the lot. Depth at most 2½ times average width, unless both lots are R-1 with at least 50 feet frontage and width. Applies: Applies to an urban lot split. § 30.76 · code text Lot depths shall not exceed two and one-half (2½) times their average width, unless all of the following are true: The handle of a panhandle lot must be at least 15 feet wide. Applies: Urban lot split that creates a panhandle lot. § 30.76 · code text The handle section of lot shall have a width of no less than fifteen (15) feet. A primary dwelling unit must be within 200 feet of the lot's street frontage. Applies: Urban lot split that creates a panhandle lot. § 30.76 · code text A primary dwelling unit shall be located within two hundred (200) feet from the street frontage of such lot. A panhandle lot may have no more than 6 corner points. Applies: Urban lot split that creates a panhandle lot. § 30.76 · code text The lot shall contain no more than six (6) corner points.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Redwood City?

No more than 2 lots, neither smaller than 40% of the original lot, each at least 1,200 square feet, in RH or R-1 districts.

Lot splits under SB 9 in Redwood City

Key points

What Redwood City's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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