Two bills have recently become state law that address California’s two deepening housing problems: housing affordability/shortage and homelessness.
Tackling California’s Housing Shortage to Relieve Affordability Crisis and Homelessness
With a median housing cost of well over $800,000 due to its “pervasive” inventory shortage, according to Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel Appraiser, “ It’s obvious that California needs more housing. “
One bill recently signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate Bill 9, addresses the state’s housing shortage. Senate Bill 9 would essentially eliminate single-family zoning by allowing duplexes to be built in most neighborhoods throughout the state.
Another bill also recently signed by Governor Newsom is Senate Bill 10. This bill is designed to reduce environmental rules on multifamily housing and make it easier for cities to add high-density development.
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Both California Bills Part of National Trend to Open Up Housing Opportunities
Senate Bill 9 and Senate Bill 10 have been either championed by housing advocates or vilified by homeowners and local governments. Because Senate Bill 9 allows two units per parcel on a single-family lot and permits property owners to subdivide their lots, Senate Bill 9 could increase density to as many as four units on one single-family plot.
Supporters of the bill call it a “modest” production bill that “gently” increases density while “…respecting the character of neighborhoods…(and) giving opportunities to people who haven’t been able to own a home.” Opposition groups to Senate Bill 9 say it “crushes single-family zoning” and is “the beginning of the end of homeownership in California.”
With the passage of Senate Bill 9, California joins Oregon as the only two states in the nation that have actually passed a state-level ban on single-family housing zoning. Other states, including Connecticut, New Hampshire, Montana and North Carolina have considered reforming local zoning rules but only the cities of Charlotte NC, Minneapolis MN, Portland OR and Sacramento CA have allowed multifamily buildings on lots formerly limited to single-family development.
Homelessness Addressed in Senate Bill 10
Senate Bill 10, nicknamed the YIMBY or Yes In My Back Yard Bill, essentially unlocks where people can live by making it easier for cities to zone for smaller, lower-cost housing developments of up to 10 units to help address the largest homelessness crisis in the nation.
This law “requires an attached housing development to be a permitted use, not subject to a conditional use permit, on any parcel zoned for multifamily housing if at least a certain percentage of the units are available at affordable housing costs to the very low income, low income and moderate-income households for at least 30 years…”
Senate Bill 10 applies to all land parcels except those designated to be public space or in heavy fire-prone areas. Likewise, the creation of up to two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and two junior accessory dwelling units per parcel “…shall not count towards the total number of units of a residential or mixed-use residential project…”
Thanks to courts.ca.gov and The New York Times.
