City of Rolling Hills Estates
Everything You Need to Know About SB-684 Development in Rolling Hills Estates
California is making it easier to develop property with updates to land use laws. These changes speed up the approval process and allow developers to delay certain payments until the project is completed or the building is ready for people to move in. The new SB-684 law is part of a nationwide effort to encourage "middle housing," which simplifies the approval of projects with up to 10 homes on smaller urban lots. Starting July 1, 2024, cities like Rolling Hills Estates will need to approve projects that meet these new guidelines.
What is SB-684?
SB-684, or Senate Bill 684, is a law aimed at making it easier to approve small housing projects in California. It speeds up the process for building up to 10 homes on urban lots smaller than 5 acres, allowing local authorities to make decisions in 60 days without public hearings or extra reviews. The law also removes certain requirements, such as some parts of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
However, due to specific zoning rules, this bill doesn't apply to Rolling Hills Estates.
Why is SB-684 not applicable in Rolling Hills Estates?
CityStructure contacted the city's planning department, and on September 10, 2024, Katrina Kawagoe, Rolling Hills Estates’ assistant planner, clarified to the CityStructure team when we reached out to her, that
“SB 684 does not apply to any property in Rolling Hills Estates as the land is located in a very high fire severity zone (VHFSZ) and cannot be subdivided pursuant to the bill.”
This means that SB-684 cannot be used for properties in areas with a high risk of wildfires. Since all properties in Rolling Hills Estates are located in such zones, the city is unable to use SB-684 for lot subdivisions. This restriction is due to state rules that prevent the law from applying in high-fire-risk areas.
CalFire
SB-684 is not the only regulation that lets you add value to a property.
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