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Single Family Home / Dirt to Multiple Units: How to Apply The SB 1123 Checklist and Remainder Lot Strategies - Matt Baran
On the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments hosted by Kent Fai He, architect-developer Matt Baran returns with a tactical, step-by-step site analysis playbook: how to run a city eligibility checklist (zoning, height, setbacks), screen for fire/flood risk, spot housing-element traps that trigger deed-restricted units, and decide between SB 1123/684, SB9, or ADU pathways—before you ever call a seller.
What this episode is about:
• A repeatable lot-screening workflow: parcel map → dimensions/area → city checklist (zoning, height, setbacks) → fire/flood maps → housing-element status → eligibility path (SB 1123/684 vs. SB9 vs. ADUs).
• SB 1123 vs. SB 684 in plain English: why the 66% of “Mullen density” (≈20 DU/Acre) flexibility matters, and how remainder-lot strategy can keep you ≤10 homes and inside the law.
• Reality checks cities still control: front setbacks, height, access, open space, and new objective standards (like roof-pitch conformity) that can quietly kill a layout.
• When SB9 and ADUs beat small-lot splits: fire-zone carve-outs, city-by-city rules, and multifamily ADU counts limited only by site capacity in some cases.
• Designing for the market, not just density: Matt’s 20×40 “building block” (≈1,600–1,750 sf over 2 floors) with parking layouts that actually sell in single-family neighborhoods.
Why it matters for investors & developers:
This is the bridge from statute to site plan: avoid buying dirt you can’t entitle, dodge mandatory affordability surprises, and size the yield to what your buyers/financiers will support... not just what a spreadsheet says.
The episode shows how one mis-flagged fire/flood zone or housing-element site can turn a slam dunk into a pass.
Direct quotes from Matt
“Each city is unique… you really need a checklist to navigate setbacks, height, and what path is even eligible.”
“That random site? High Fire Hazard Severity Zone—SB 1123 is out there.”
“If the site is tagged in the housing element, you’re now talking deed-restricted affordability—that changes the pro forma.”
“Remainder lots let you carve off area so your density math stays ≤10 units.”
“I start with a 20×40 module—I know it fits, parks, and the market will absorb it.”
Common questions this episode answers
How do I quickly vet if a lot works for SB 1123/684 vs. SB9 vs. ADUs?
What exactly is the 66% density rule and how do remainder lots help stay under 10 units?
Which city “objective standards” still block projects (height, setbacks, access, roof pitch)?
Where do fire/flood maps and housing-element flags change feasibility?
Why might 8 units sell better than 10 on a block of 6,000-sf SFR lots?
Ready to connect with Matt? Find his email and exclusive content on his website: barnstudio.com
and follow him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbarchitect
Please DM any questions or content suggestions to Kent Fai He, affordable housing developer, educator, and host of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments in the United States.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
#AffordableHousing #MattBaran #realestate #CaliforniaHousing #SB1123 #SB684 #SB9 #ADU #SmallLotSubdivision #InfillDevelopment #RemainderLot #HousingElement #Zoning #SiteAnalysis
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By Kent Fai He @kentfaiheOn the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments hosted by Kent Fai He, architect-developer Matt Baran returns with a tactical, step-by-step site analysis playbook: how to run a city eligibility checklist (zoning, height, setbacks), screen for fire/flood risk, spot housing-element traps that trigger deed-restricted units, and decide between SB 1123/684, SB9, or ADU pathways—before you ever call a seller.
What this episode is about:
• A repeatable lot-screening workflow: parcel map → dimensions/area → city checklist (zoning, height, setbacks) → fire/flood maps → housing-element status → eligibility path (SB 1123/684 vs. SB9 vs. ADUs).
• SB 1123 vs. SB 684 in plain English: why the 66% of “Mullen density” (≈20 DU/Acre) flexibility matters, and how remainder-lot strategy can keep you ≤10 homes and inside the law.
• Reality checks cities still control: front setbacks, height, access, open space, and new objective standards (like roof-pitch conformity) that can quietly kill a layout.
• When SB9 and ADUs beat small-lot splits: fire-zone carve-outs, city-by-city rules, and multifamily ADU counts limited only by site capacity in some cases.
• Designing for the market, not just density: Matt’s 20×40 “building block” (≈1,600–1,750 sf over 2 floors) with parking layouts that actually sell in single-family neighborhoods.
Why it matters for investors & developers:
This is the bridge from statute to site plan: avoid buying dirt you can’t entitle, dodge mandatory affordability surprises, and size the yield to what your buyers/financiers will support... not just what a spreadsheet says.
The episode shows how one mis-flagged fire/flood zone or housing-element site can turn a slam dunk into a pass.
Direct quotes from Matt
“Each city is unique… you really need a checklist to navigate setbacks, height, and what path is even eligible.”
“That random site? High Fire Hazard Severity Zone—SB 1123 is out there.”
“If the site is tagged in the housing element, you’re now talking deed-restricted affordability—that changes the pro forma.”
“Remainder lots let you carve off area so your density math stays ≤10 units.”
“I start with a 20×40 module—I know it fits, parks, and the market will absorb it.”
Common questions this episode answers
How do I quickly vet if a lot works for SB 1123/684 vs. SB9 vs. ADUs?
What exactly is the 66% density rule and how do remainder lots help stay under 10 units?
Which city “objective standards” still block projects (height, setbacks, access, roof pitch)?
Where do fire/flood maps and housing-element flags change feasibility?
Why might 8 units sell better than 10 on a block of 6,000-sf SFR lots?
Ready to connect with Matt? Find his email and exclusive content on his website: barnstudio.com
and follow him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbarchitect
Please DM any questions or content suggestions to Kent Fai He, affordable housing developer, educator, and host of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments in the United States.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
#AffordableHousing #MattBaran #realestate #CaliforniaHousing #SB1123 #SB684 #SB9 #ADU #SmallLotSubdivision #InfillDevelopment #RemainderLot #HousingElement #Zoning #SiteAnalysis