California residential lot split experts
Lot Splits to Maximize Your Property Value
Take advantage of California’s new Lot Split Law to unlock your property’s value. Creating another legal property can add $400,000-$900,000+ to your property value in just one year.
$42MValue created for clients
110+SB9 lot split projects
$400KAvg. added property value
Why do a lot split
Create another legal property from land you already own
Riechers Engineering helps homeowners use California’s SB9 Lot Split Law to create new legal parcels, increase property options, and plan around family, wealth, rental income, and long-term development goals.
- Increase property value by approximately 25% when the property qualifies.
- Create an additional real estate asset that can potentially be developed, held, financed, or sold separately.
- Increase what you can build on your land, with the potential for up to four homes when the property qualifies.
- Enhance estate planning and diversify real estate assets.
- Get access to more cash by creating a clearer path to property value before spending heavily on plans or applications.
$400K-$900K+Potential added value when a property can support a separate legal parcel.
About Riechers Engineering
California’s experts in residential SB9 lot splits
Riechers brings 45+ years of residential development and civil engineering experience to a highly specialized SB9 process. The goal is to determine whether the property can actually work before homeowners spend money in the wrong order.
Engineering-led feasibility
Lot size, access, utilities, drainage, title, lender issues, and local objective standards are reviewed before the project path gets expensive.
SB9 focus
Riechers is positioned as a specialist for Senate Bill 9 lot split approvals, not a generic design or contractor firm.
Low client lift
Riechers handles the technical process. Clients generally sign documents, approve the parcel line, and provide required payments or notarizations.
How to lot split under SB9
Watch how the lot split process works before you start.
Watch Riechers explain how the SB9 lot split process works before you start.
Eligibility review
Check SB9 rules, local standards, site constraints, and ownership goals.
Parcel strategy
Identify a practical split configuration, access path, utility approach, and likely agency process.
Engineering & map
Move through survey, parcel-map work, agency comments, and revisions.
Approval & recordation
Resolve conditions, record the map, and turn the strategy into usable property options.
Riechers explains the SB9 lot split process and what happens before a parcel map is recorded.
Value created for clients
Real SB9 project proof
Published Riechers case studies help homeowners see how a separate legal parcel can create meaningful property value before they submit their property for review.
Santa Barbara County$650,000
Published lot split value increase from a Riechers case study.
Sonoma$1,100,000
Published additional parcel value from a Riechers lot split project.
Napa and Bay AreaProperty upside
Project examples help homeowners understand what a practical SB9 outcome can look like.
California’s new SB9 law
Senate Bill 9 can create a second legal property.
SB9 is California’s lot split law for qualifying single-family residential properties. The opportunity is real, but the property still has to clear zoning, lot size, access, utility, title, environmental, and local objective-standard issues.
A California lot split path
For qualifying parcels, SB9 may allow one residential property to be split into two legal parcels.
Single-family residential owners
The best candidates usually have enough lot area, practical access, workable utilities, and a clear ownership goal.
Local constraints still matter
SB9 does not erase every city, title, lender, utility, or site condition. Feasibility comes first.
California city feasibility
SB9 is statewide, but the real answer is property specific.
A statewide law does not create the same outcome on every parcel. Riechers evaluates the property, the city, the lot geometry, and the engineering constraints together before recommending a path.
Carbon neutral
Riechers Engineering planted 220 trees with One Tree Planted in 2023.
Part of the Riechers brand story, presented in a cleaner style that matches the rest of the site.
SB9 lot split projects
Check out our project map
The interactive project map helps homeowners see Riechers activity across California while keeping the page clean, focused, and easy to scan.
Video education
Learn the key SB9 decisions before choosing a path.
Short Riechers videos and guides help homeowners understand lot splits, ADUs, and feasibility before they check eligibility.
Watch a short Riechers video before deciding whether SB9, an ADU, or another path makes sense for your property.
Testimonials
Trusted by California homeowners
Harf, SonomaBusiness Family
“Our property didn’t meet the minimum lot size for a traditional lot split but then we did SB9 and created a $1,000,000 parcel.”
*****
Don, NovatoBusiness Family
“I enthusiastically recommend Riechers Engineering. They recently completed an SB-9 lot split for our property. This is a complicated process, and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it myself. They navigated regulatory and technical obstacles, completing the job on time and on budget.”
*****
May, NapaBusiness Family
“I hope you decide to go forward with the lot split. We have seen our property value increase. You will be in good hands with Mr. Riechers.”
*****
Steve, Corte MaderaBusiness Family
“We wouldn’t have been able to build on the steep lot. But because we did the lot split, we can build 2,000 sq ft. Highly recommend this investment.”
*****
Jerry and Patti, NapaBusiness Family
“We had the privilege of working with Riechers Engineering. They completed the lot split with speed, met all city requirements and answered all our questions. Peter’s knowledge was exceptionally apropos for the job at hand. We were grateful that this project was in excellent hands.”
*****
Cynthia, Contra Costa CoBusiness Family
“It’s been great working with Riechers Engineering throughout this process. We were previously unaware of the opportunity and your company’s expertise handled all the complexities.”
*****
Maria RabadonBusiness Family
“Working with you guys was Super, never worked with any company as good, reliable, and with so much integrity as you guys. Let me know if you want me to advertise for you. I’ll do it for free.”
*****
Guarantee and risk control
A clearer process before expensive work begins
The lot split path starts with feasibility, risk control, and practical next steps before homeowners commit to expensive survey, mapping, or design work.
Clear expectations
Clarify cost expectations before the homeowner commits to expensive survey, mapping, or planning work.
Riechers handles the process
The client role is limited to signatures, approvals, notarization, map review, and required payments.
Practical clarity
Check the property carefully before choosing the wrong project path or spending money in the wrong order.
SB9 education hub
SB9 guides for the questions homeowners actually ask
Use these guides to understand the law, compare options, estimate risk, and decide whether your property is worth reviewing before you spend money on the wrong next step.
What is SB9?
The primary California SB9 lot split guide for homeowners.
SB9 vs ADU
Compare a separate-parcel strategy with an accessory dwelling unit.
SB9 lot split cost
Understand cost ranges, risk, and why feasibility comes first.
Step-by-step process
See what happens from feasibility through parcel-map recordation.
Property eligibility
Review the checks that determine whether the opportunity is real.
40 percent rule
Learn the lot-size math and the physical constraints behind it.
SB9 with a mortgage
Understand why lender, title, and sale strategy need review.
Neighbor approval
Clarify the difference between objective standards and neighbor preference.
Recent articles
Helpful SB9 articles for the next decision.
Recent SB9 articles help homeowners understand financing, ADUs, eligibility, and the decisions that come before a lot split.
Financing an SB9 Project: What Are Your Options?
Understand lender, mortgage, and financing questions before planning a split.
SB9 Lot Splits vs. Building an ADU
Compare a separate-parcel strategy with adding an ADU on the same property.
Is Your Property Eligible for an SB9 Lot Split?
Start with the rules, constraints, and feasibility questions that matter most.
Source-backed guidance
SB9 advice should be grounded in the law and the actual property.
Riechers keeps SB9 guidance tied to California housing rules, local objective standards, and the physical feasibility of the lot instead of giving homeowners a generic yes or no.
California HCD SB9 fact sheet
Use state guidance as the baseline for what SB9 can and cannot do before checking local and property-specific constraints.
Read HCD fact sheetCalifornia HCD lot split guidance
SB9 lot splits, two-unit development, objective standards, and feasibility questions still need careful review.
Read HCD guidanceCalifornia SB9 homeowner guide
The Riechers SB9 pillar explains the homeowner version of the rules, risks, and next steps.
Read the SB9 guideThe eligibility review is not a legal opinion, loan approval, or city approval; it is the first practical screen before a homeowner spends heavily on the next phase.
FAQ
Common questions before the eligibility review
Can SB9 really create a separate legal parcel?
For qualifying California properties, SB9 may allow an urban lot split that creates two legal parcels. The real question is whether the property, title, access, utilities, and local objective standards make that split practical.
How do I know if my property qualifies for SB9?
Start with a property-specific eligibility review. Riechers checks lot size, zoning, access, utilities, existing structures, title issues, environmental constraints, lender concerns, and local objective standards.
Is SB9 better than building an ADU?
Not always. An ADU can be a simpler path for adding a unit on the same parcel. SB9 may be stronger when the goal is a separate legal parcel, resale flexibility, family planning, rental strategy, or long-term property value.
Can I do an SB9 lot split if I have a mortgage?
A mortgage does not automatically make SB9 impossible, but lender, title, collateral, refinance, and sale-strategy issues need review before a homeowner assumes the new parcel can be sold or financed separately.
Does SB9 require neighbor approval?
SB9 review is generally based on eligibility and objective standards, not a neighborhood vote. That does not mean there are no rules; the property still has to satisfy the applicable technical and local requirements.
How long does an SB9 lot split take?
Timing depends on the city, the parcel, agency comments, survey and engineering work, title conditions, and the owner’s strategy. A feasibility review helps identify the likely process before the project moves into heavier work.
What does the 40 percent rule mean?
The 40 percent rule is a lot-size screen for an SB9 urban lot split. It is important, but it is not the whole answer because access, utilities, shape, slope, easements, and local standards can still decide whether the split is practical.
What happens before paying for plans?
Start with an eligibility and feasibility review so the property is checked before money is spent on survey, engineering, architecture, or agency work in the wrong order.
Start your lot split today
Check whether your property may qualify before you spend money in the wrong order.
Start with the eligibility checker so the property can be reviewed before expensive work begins.
