Key facts
- California lawmakers passed legislation to close loopholes that cities use to block housing density laws.
- Several bills targeting zoning, ADUs, permitting, and downtown density have been sent to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk.
- New laws aim to make Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) easier and cheaper to build, allowing homeowners to construct two detached units.
- One bill will allow seven of California's largest cities to permit high-rise housing near transit hubs.
- Legislation strengthens the Starter Home Revitalization Act, requiring cities to fast-track small-lot, for-sale detached homes and mandating HCD compliance review.
- Senate Bill 677 was amended to limit subdivision-map appeals for urban infill housing and address delays in affordable housing financing.
California lawmakers have advanced a suite of housing bills to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk, signaling a continued state-level effort to address the housing affordability crisis by promoting density and streamlining development. These legislative actions represent an escalation of California's strategy to preempt local control over zoning and permitting, aiming to counteract decades of housing shortages.
Key among the bills is Senate Bill 677, which aims to close loopholes that cities and neighborhoods have used to obstruct state housing density laws. This bill, after an 18-month journey, seeks to prevent late-stage delay tactics against already approved housing projects, including limiting subdivision map appeals for urban infill housing and empowering the state treasurer to approve stalled affordable housing financing.
Other legislation focuses on expanding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), making them easier and cheaper to build by cutting fees and allowing homeowners to construct two detached units instead of one. SB 1014 would require cities to disclose infrastructure requirements for housing applications within 30 days and prevent them from adding new requirements later. A significant zoning change, AB 2074, would permit seven of the state's largest transit-rich cities to allow high-rise housing near transit hubs, a move supported by housing advocates like California YIMBY.
The state's Starter Home Revitalization Act is also being bolstered by SB 1116. This bill adds requirements for cities to fast-track small-lot, for-sale detached homes, including measuring height limits in feet, tightening setback rules, and for the first time, requiring local ordinances under this law to undergo compliance review by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). This move comes after cities have employed workarounds to slow or stall previous measures, prompting technical assistance letters from the HCD.
Despite these efforts, some groups, including the League of California Cities, have voiced opposition, arguing that the bills strip local governments of discretionary rights and allow for increased density without adequate public notice or review. Concerns were also raised about the vagueness of transit-district definition changes in SB 677, potentially expanding its application without sufficient clarity for cities.