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Ordinance Fact Sheet
September 8, 2025
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY ATTORNEY
SUBJECT: AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
PROHIBITING URBAN LOT SPLITS AND CONSTRUCTION OF
MULTIPLE DWELLINGS PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 9 IN VERY
HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE BOUNDARY
OF THE EATON FIRE
TITLE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA
PROHIBITING URBAN LOT SPLITS AND CONSTRUCTION OF MULTIPLE DWELLINGS PURSUANT TO SENATE BILL 9 IN VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE EATON FIRE
PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE
The purpose of this ordinance is to prohibit Senate Bill ("SB") 9 applications in single family zones in very high fire hazard severity zones within the boundary of the Eaton Fire in accordance with the Governor of California's Executive Order ("EO") N-32-25.
REASONS WHY LEGISLATION IS NEEDED
SB 9 was enacted to support the creation of housing by requiring public agencies to ministerially approve two-unit developments and urban lot splits, resulting in up to four-unit developments, in single-family zones. On July 30, 2025, the Governor issued Executive Order N-32-25, which suspended Government Code sections 65852.21 and 66411.7 in very high fire hazard severity zones within the boundaries of the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County to the extent such sections limit the local agency's discretion in approving applications for development of two units on a single-family parcel or lot splits.
MEETING OF _09/08/2025_
AGENDA ITEM NO. 13
SB 9 - Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
September 8, 2025
This ordinance is needed to implement standards that prohibit SB 9 applications in very high fire hazard severity zones within the boundary of the Eaton Fire within the City of Pasadena, which is intended to avoid widespread SB 9 development concentrated in neighborhoods that are in very high fire hazard severity zones within the burn area and that might crowd evacuation routes.
If this ordinance is not adopted, property owners in very high fire hazard severity zones in the boundary of the Eaton Fire would continue to be eligible to submit SB 9 applications that permit ministerial approval of qualifying two-unit developments on parcels in single-family residential zones and urban lot splits. A map of the subject area is attached hereto.
PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENTS^R GROUPS AFFECTED
The Planning and Community Development Department will implement this ordinance.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The actions proposed herein are not subject to CEQA pursuant to EO N-32-25. ///
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SB 9 -Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
September 8, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this ordinance amendment.
Respectfully submitted,
Prepared by:
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Michele Beal
City Attorney
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Caroline K.-1(I/lonroy ^
Assistant City Attorney
Concurred by:
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MiguelWarquez
City Manager
Attachment: VHFHSZ and Eaton Fire Boundary Map