SB 1211 for 6-unit apartment in Pasadena
A 6-unit 6-unit apartment in Pasadena qualifies for up to 7 new homes under SB 1211 — 6 detached ADUs and 1 interior conversions. At Pasadena's median rent of $2,700/mo, that's ~$227K in additional gross annual rent.
The Pasadena scenario
The scenario most Pasadena 6-unit apartment owners face: an existing building, mature trees, and a back lot that's currently doing nothing. SB 1211's 4-ft setback and 18-ft height envelope fits 6 detached units behind that primary structure with room for fire-access in front.
Local tip for Pasadena: Pasadena has historic district overlays to verify.
Mid-size multifamily (5–8 unit) design playbook
This is SB 1211's sweet spot. A 6-unit existing building maxes out the 8-detached cap (or comes close), so design moves are about packing detached ADUs efficiently around the existing structure and converting underutilized parking.
Pro-forma snapshot
| Existing units | 6 |
| Detached ADUs (SB 1211) | 6 |
| Interior conversions | 1 |
| Total new units | 7 |
| Median 1BR rent in Pasadena | $2,700/mo |
| Est. additional gross rent | $227K/yr |
| Estimated total project cost | ~$1,725K |
| Year-1 NOI estimate | ~$170K |
| Stabilized cap rate at cost | 9.9% |
| Replacement parking required | No (§66313) |
| Approval pathway | Ministerial · §66314 |
| Typical permit timeline in Pasadena | 75-130 days |
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