ORDINANCE NO. 1440 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 25.34 (SPECIAL USE PROVISIONS) AND CHAPTER 26.30 (URBAN LOT SPLITS) OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO URBAN LOT SPLITS AND TWO-UNIT PROJECTS AND DETERMINING THE ORDINANCE TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA WHEREAS, the City of Palm Desert, California (" City") is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the constitution and laws of the State of California; and WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Law authorizes cities to establish by ordinance the regulations for land use and development; and WHEREAS, in 2021, the California Legislature approved, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 9 ("SB 9"), which among other things, adds Government Code section 65852.21 and 66411.7 to impose new limits on local authority to regulate urban lot splits and two-unit projects; and WHEREAS, in 2024, the California Legislature approved, and the Governor signed into law, Senate Bill 450 ("SB 450"), which further amends state law established under SB 9; WHEREAS, SB 450 maintains the goals of SB 9 with key provisions to ensure homeowners can fully utilize the streamlined housing options put in place by SB 9; and WHEREAS, the City desires to amend its local Ordinance to provide opportunities for streamlining the construction of urban lot splits and two-unit projects; and WHEREAS, on October 21, 2025, the Planning Commission held a duly-noticed public hearing considered the staff report, recommendations by staff, and public testimony concerning this proposed Ordinance. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 2902 to forward the Ordinance to the City Council with a recommendation in favor of its adoption; and WHEREAS, on December 11, 2025, the City Council held a duly-noticed public hearing to consider the Ordinance, including: (1) the public testimony and agenda reports prepared in connection with the Ordinance, (2) the policy considerations discussed therein, and (3) the consideration and recommendation by the City's Planning Commission; and WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of the Ordinance have occurred. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Incorporation. The recitals above are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council. SECTION 2. CEQA. The City Council finds that, under California Government Code sections 65852.21(k), and 66411.7(n), the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of Government Code sections 66411.7 and 65852.21 regulating urban lot splits and two-unit projects is statutorily exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). Therefore, the proposed ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA in that the proposed ordinance implements laws enacted by SB 9 and SB 450. SECTION 3. Code Amendment. The City Council approves and adopts the PDMC amendments to Titles 25 and 26 as shown in "Exhibit A", which is attached hereto and incorporated herewith. SECTION 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect 30 days after its adoption. SECTION 5. Publication. The City Clerk is directed to certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and post or publish this Ordinance as required by law. SECTION 6. Custodian of Records. The custodian of records for this Ordinance is the City Clerk and the records comprising the administrative record are located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA. SECTION 7. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity has no effect on the other provisions or applications of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this extent, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any portion thereof. ADOPTED ON JANUARY 8, 2026. /s/ Evan Trubee, Mayor Attest /s/ Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk I, Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, California, do hereby certify that Ordinance No. 1440 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was introduced at a regular meeting of the Palm Desert City Council on December 11, 2025, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on January 8, 2026, by the following vote: AYES: HARNIK, NESTANDE, PRADETTO, QUINTANILLA, AND TRUBEE NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE RECUSED: NONE IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Desert, California, on 1/9/2026. /s/ Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk Exhibit A is available for viewing in person at the City Clerk's office 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert California or by request at cityclerk@palmdesert.gov January 13 2026 LYRK0438429