SB 1211 for 5-unit apartment in Richmond
A 5-unit 5-unit apartment in Richmond qualifies for up to 6 new homes under SB 1211 — 5 detached ADUs and 1 interior conversions. At Richmond's median rent of $2,400/mo, that's ~$173K in additional gross annual rent.
The Richmond scenario
The scenario most Richmond 5-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 5 detached units behind that primary structure with room for fire-access in front.
Richmond-specific note: Rent control applies to existing units; new ADUs typically exempt.
Mid-size multifamily (5–8 unit) design playbook
This is SB 1211's sweet spot. A 5-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 | 5 |
| Detached ADUs (SB 1211) | 5 |
| Interior conversions | 1 |
| Total new units | 6 |
| Median 1BR rent in Richmond | $2,400/mo |
| Est. additional gross rent | $173K/yr |
| Estimated total project cost | ~$1,478K |
| Year-1 NOI estimate | ~$130K |
| Stabilized cap rate at cost | 8.8% |
| Replacement parking required | No (§66313) |
| Approval pathway | Ministerial · §66314 |
| Typical permit timeline in Richmond | 70-115 days |
Get a personalized SB 1211 feasibility report for 5-unit apartment owners in Richmond
3 minutes. We email you a 4-page PDF with your buildable count, parking determination, jurisdiction overlays, and pro-forma.
No spam · free · delivered in 24 hrs