State Housing Bills

This page outlines the types of housing projects that are eligible for streamlined review by the City. The page provides quick summaries and guidances on the passed legislations. 

• SB 9 Two Unit Residential Development and Two Lots Subdivision Senate Bill (SB) 9 (Chapter 162, Statutes of 2021) provides for a ministerial approval process for a housing development that meets specific requirements in a single family zone. SB 9 facilitates the creation of up to TWO primary dwelling units in the lot area typically used for one single-family home and/or the subdivision of one single family parcel into two. 

• SB 35/ SB 423 Senate Bill 35 (SB 35), passed in 2017, streamlines the approval process for housing developments in California by removing certain discretionary review requirements in cities failing to meet their housing needs, particularly for affordable housing. It requires qualifying projects to adhere to objective design standards and include affordable units, while also ensuring compliance with labor standards. Senate Bill 423 (SB 423), passed in 2023, extends and builds on SB 35, removing its sunset clause and further expanding the streamlining process to coastal areas, provided developments comply with the California Coastal Act. SB 423 also strengthens labor protections and includes new provisions for equitable development.

• SB 330 (Skinner, 2019) prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting new laws that would have the effect of reducing the legal limit on new housing within their borders or delay new housing via administrative or other regulatory barriers. This streamlining provision sunsets on January 1, 2025. See this link for the legislation language. 

• Senate Bill 684 streamlines the approval process for small homeownership developments, allowing ministerial approval for projects of up to 10 homes in multifamily zones and lots. It expedites timelines by simplifying the Subdivision Map Act and ensures protections for low-income housing. The bill aims to create more affordable homeownership opportunities for moderate- and middle-income Californians, building on the 2021 Starter Home Revitalization Act. Effective on July 1, 2024.

• Senate Bill 1123 (SB 1123) expands on SB 684 by streamlining approvals for small housing developments (up to 10 homes) on vacant single-family lots near jobs and amenities. It simplifies the subdivision of larger lots to promote affordable homeownership and clarifies eligibility for various housing types, including tenancies in common and community land trusts. This bill will be effective on July 1, 2025. 

• Senate Bill 4 (2023) establishes a streamlined approval process for affordable housing developments by religious organizations and nonprofits on or before January 1, 2024. SB 4 expires on January 1, 2036. Projects receive "by right" approval if the project is comply with local objective design standards and meet specific environmental protections.