California lawmakers simply paved the way in which for an entire lot extra housing within the Golden State.
Within the waning hours of the 2025 legislative session, the state Senate voted 21 to eight to approve Senate Invoice 79, a landmark housing invoice that overrides native zoning legal guidelines to broaden high-density housing close to transit hubs. The controversial invoice acquired a last concurrence vote from the Senate on Friday, a day after passing within the California Meeting with a vote of 41 to 17.
The invoice had already squeaked by means of the state Senate by a slim margin earlier this yr, however because it was amended within the following months, it required a second approval. It’ll head to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk in October.
One of many extra formidable state-imposed efforts to extend housing density in recent times, the invoice was launched in March by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who stresses that the state must take speedy motion to handle California’s housing scarcity. It opens the door for taller, denser housing close to transit corridors reminiscent of bus stops and practice stations: as much as 9 tales for buildings adjoining to sure transit stops, seven tales for buildings inside a quarter-mile and 6 tales for buildings inside a half-mile.
Single-family neighborhoods inside a half-mile of transit stops can be topic to the brand new zoning guidelines.
Peak limits are primarily based on tiers. Tier 1 zoning, which incorporates heavy rail strains such because the L.A. Metro B and D strains, permits for six- to nine-story buildings, relying on proximity to the transit hub. Tier 2 zoning — which incorporates mild rail strains such because the A, C, E and Okay strains, in addition to bus routes with devoted lanes — permits for five- to eight-story buildings.
An novice map launched by a cartographer and fact-checked by YIMBY Motion, a housing nonprofit that helped push the invoice by means of, provides an thought of the areas round L.A. that will be eligible for improvement below SB 79. Tier 1 zones embody hubs alongside Wilshire Boulevard, Vermont Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, in addition to a handful of spots in downtown L.A. and the San Fernando Valley.
Tier 2 zones are extra unfold out, dotting Exposition Boulevard alongside the E line, stretching towards Inglewood alongside the Okay line, and operating from Lengthy Seashore into the San Gabriel Valley alongside the A line.
Meeting members debated the invoice for round 40 minutes on Thursday night and cheered after it was handed.
“During the last 5 years, housing affordability and homelessness have constantly been among the many prime priorities in California. The neatest place to construct new housing is inside current communities, close to the state’s main transit investments that join individuals to jobs, faculties and important providers,” stated Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) in help of the invoice.
Different Meeting members, together with Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) and Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) voiced their help.
Proponents say drastic measures are vital given the state’s affordability disaster.
“SB 79 is what we’ve been working in the direction of for a decade — new housing subsequent to our most regularly used practice stations. This invoice has the potential to unlock lots of of hundreds of latest multifamily houses,” stated YIMBY Motion California director Leora Tanjuatco Ross.
Critics declare the blanket mandate is an overreach, stripping native authorities of their skill to advertise accountable progress.
Assemblymember Rick Zbur (D-West Hollywood) argued towards the invoice, claiming it is going to have an effect on lower-priced neighborhoods greater than rich ones since land costs are cheaper for housing builders.
The vote got here a number of weeks after the Los Angeles Metropolis Council got here out towards the invoice, voting 8 to five on a decision opposing it.
Councilmember Traci Park, who co-authored the decision with Councilmember John Lee, known as SB 79 a “one-size-fits-all mandate from Sacramento.” Lee known as it “chaos.”
The decision known as for L.A. to be exempt from the upzoning because it already has a state-approved housing plan.
The invoice has spurred a number of protests in Southern California communities, together with Pacific Palisades and San Diego. Residents concern the zoning adjustments would alter single-family communities and power residents into competitors with builders, who can be incentivized below the brand new guidelines to buy properties close to transit corridors.
Nevertheless, help for SB 79 surged in current days after the State Constructing and Building Trades Council, a robust labor group that represents union building employees, agreed to reverse its opposition in change for amendments that add union hiring to sure tasks.
In an announcement after the deal was struck, the trades council President Chris Hannan stated the amendments would supply good jobs and coaching to California’s expert building workforce.
Wiener, who has unsuccessfully tried to move comparable laws twice earlier than, stated the deal boosted the invoice’s possibilities.
