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Nevada City · Building on your lot

Lot splits under SB 9 in Nevada City

Nevada City's own rules on lot splits under SB 9, with the code text for every value.

Ask about lot splits under SB 9 in Nevada City See coverage

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

What Nevada City's code says

Nevada City code What Nevada City's code adds
How the lot may be divided
  • At most 2 new lots of about equal area; 1 lot may not be under 40% of the original area.
    Applies: Urban lot split in a single-family residential zone.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    The parcel map divides an existing parcel to create no more than two new parcels of approximately equal lot area, provided that one parcel shall not be smaller than 40 percent of the lot area of the original parcel.
Minimum new lot size
  • At least 1,200 square feet.
    Applies: Both new lots.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    Both newly created parcels are no smaller than 1,200 square feet.
Setbacks
  • 4 feet.
    Applies: Side and rear lot lines, except for an existing structure or one rebuilt in the same place at the same size.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    Except for those circumstances described in subsection B.2., above, the setback for side and rear lot lines shall be four feet.
Standards
  • Each lot needs at least 12 feet of street frontage for vehicle access, or an equal recorded access easement.
    Applies: Urban lot split.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    All lots shall have a minimum street frontage of twelve feet to provide for vehicular access, or an equivalent access provided by a duly recorded access easement.
  • No building within 100 feet on both sides of a year-round waterway, shown as a non-disturbance area on the map.
    Applies: Urban lot split.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    100-feet along both sides of a waterway with perennial flow as depicted on a USGS 7-minute quadrangle map.
  • No building within 25 feet on both sides of an intermittent waterway, shown as a non-disturbance area on the map.
    Applies: Urban lot split.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    25-feet along both sides of a waterway with intermittent flow as depicted on a USGS 7-minute quadrangle map.
  • No building on slopes over 30%, shown as a non-disturbance area on the parcel map.
    Applies: Urban lot split.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    Slopes in excess of 30% as depicted on a topographic map showing 2-foot contours.
Parking
  • No more than 1 off-street parking space per unit may be required.
    Applies: Urban lot split. None required within 1/2 mile walk of a high-quality transit corridor or major transit stop, or 1 block of car share.
    § 16.05.030 · code text
    Off-street parking shall be limited to one space per unit, except that no parking requirements shall be imposed in either of the following circumstances:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Nevada City's code: At least 1,200 square feet. (Both new lots.) (§ 16.05.030); Each lot needs at least 12 feet of street frontage for vehicle access, or an equal recorded access easement. (Urban lot split.) (§ 16.05.030).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Nevada City property

Ask GoCodebook how Nevada City's lot splits under SB 9 rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Nevada City Municipal Code — full text