California lawmakers simply paved the best way 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 obtained a ultimate 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 way of the state Senate by a slim margin earlier this 12 months, however because it was amended within the following months, it required a second approval. It should head to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk in October.
One of many extra bold 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 fast motion to deal with California’s housing scarcity. It opens the door for taller, denser housing close to transit corridors comparable to 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.
Top limits are based mostly 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 gentle rail strains such because the A, C, E and Ok strains, in addition to bus routes with devoted lanes — permits for five- to eight-story buildings.
An newbie map launched by a cartographer and fact-checked by YIMBY Motion, a housing non-profit that helped push the invoice by way of, offers an concept of the areas round L.A. that may be eligible for growth beneath SB 79. Tier 1 zones embrace hubs alongside Wilshire Blvd., Vermont Ave., and Hollywood Blvd., 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 Blvd. alongside the E line, stretching towards Inglewood alongside the Ok line, and operating from Lengthy Seaside 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 persistently 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 assist of the invoice.
Different meeting members, together with Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale) and Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) voiced their assist.
Proponents say drastic measures are obligatory given the state’s affordability disaster.
“SB 79 is what we’ve been working in direction of for a decade – new housing subsequent to our most often used practice stations. This invoice has the potential to unlock a whole bunch of 1000’s of latest multi-family properties,” 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 in opposition to the invoice, claiming it’ll have an effect on lower-priced neighborhoods greater than rich ones since land costs are cheaper for housing builders.
The vote got here a couple of weeks after the Los Angeles Metropolis Council got here out in opposition to 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 worry the zoning modifications would alter single-family communities and drive residents into competitors with builders, who can be incentivized beneath the brand new guidelines to buy properties close to transit corridors.
Nevertheless, assist for SB 79 surged in latest days after the State Constructing and Building Trades Council, a strong labor group that represents union development staff, agreed to reverse their opposition in trade 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 development workforce.
Wiener, who has unsuccessfully tried to move comparable laws twice earlier than, stated the deal boosted the invoice’s probabilities.
