California Bans Single-Family Zoning In Most Neighborhoods Statewide
By Gwendolyn Sims
Mere days after surviving a vigorous and expensive recall attempt, California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom wasted no time quietly signing three authoritarian housing bills into law.
The trio of bills is meant to boost housing production and supply while also fighting the housing crisis in the state. These bills were sponsored and pushed solely by Democrats in both the State Assembly and the State Senate. And not surprisingly, as CalMatters reports, they include “two of the year’s most controversial proposals.”
First, there’s SB-8, which is an extension and clarification of the Housing Crisis Act of 2019. This bill prohibits local housing agencies and developers from changing the rules during the application process and streamlines the building permitting process. The bill also limits local governments’ abilities to reduce density standards on lots already zoned or planned for residential use.
Next, there’s SB-9, which allows most California homeowners to build two houses or one duplex on lots where only one single-family house was formerly permitted. The bill also permits some homeowners to split a single-family lot to build two additional units on the other half. Units have to total 1,200 square feet and be outside fire zones or historic districts. Owners must occupy the main homes for a minimum of three years after splitting lots.
Third, there’s SB-10, which allows local governments to rezone single-family lots to allow buildings with as many as 10 units as long as they are in urban areas and near public transit hubs. Like SB-9, this bill also allows homeowners and developers to skip lengthy review processes, with each project subject to final approval by the local government.