California Density Bonus Law Explained

The California Density Bonus Law (DBL, California Government Code 65915^[1] ) is a 1979 California statute which grants developers of housing a density bonus, or the ability to exceed city-mandated density limits for their projects, if certain affordable housing prerequisites are met. The law has been repeatedly amended since its enactment, largely in order to ameliorate the state's housing shortage.

Amendments

• AB 1866 (2002), permits for second units a ministerial act and forces local governments to grant nearly any request for a density bonus.^{[2] [3]}
• SB 1818 (2004) increased the maximum density bonus for certain affordable housing projects from 25% to 35%, and required cities to provide affordable housing builders with three incentives of the developer's choice.^[4]
• AB 2222 (2014)^[5]
• In 2016:^[6]
  • AB 2501
  • AB 2442
  • AB 2556
  • AB 1934
• AB 1763 (2019) amends the DBL to allow 100% affordable housing projects.^[7]
• AB 2345 (2020) increases the maximum density bonus from 35% to 50%, provided that at least one of three thresholds are met (15% of all units reserved for “very low income” housing, 24% of all units are reserved for “low income”, 44% of all units are reserved for “moderate income”).^[8]
• SB 290 (2021) expands the DBL to include affordable housing for low income college students.^[9]
• AB 1551 (2022), reinstated the ability to seek DBL benefits for commercial projects.^[10]
• AB 2334 (2022)
• AB 1287 (2023) provide an additional density bonus and an additional incentive for projects that provide very low or moderate-income units^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: California Code, GOV 65915 . 2024-10-19 . leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
2. Web site: CP&DR . Density Legislation Riles Local Planners . 2024-10-19 . www.cp-dr.com . en.
3. Web site: CP&DR . Governor Signs Housing Bills, Rail Bond . 2024-10-19 . www.cp-dr.com . en.
4. Web site: CP&DR . Governor Takes Action on Important Housing Bills . 2024-10-19 . www.cp-dr.com . en.
5. Web site: AB 2222 Restricts Use of State Density Bonus Law Legal Alerts Allen Matkins . 2024-10-19 . Allen Matkins - AB 2222 Restricts Use of State Density Bonus Law Legal Alerts Allen Matkins . en.
6. Web site: California Governor Signs Four Bills Affecting Density Bonus Projects . 2024-10-19 . JD Supra . en.
7. Web site: 2024-10-31 . Housing Density Bonus and Reporting Changes for Local Agencies . 2024-10-19 . bbklaw.com . en.
8. Web site: 2020-09-28 . Newsom Signs Gonzalez Incentives Bill For Affordable Housing Developers . 2024-10-19 . KPBS Public Media . en.
9. Web site: Governor Signs Density Bonus Law Clean Up Legislation . 2024-10-19 . Allen Matkins - Governor Signs Density Bonus Law Clean Up Legislation Legal Alerts . en.
10. Web site: California's 2023 Housing Laws: What You Need to Know Insights Holland & Knight . 2024-10-19 . www.hklaw.com . en.
11. Web site: AB 1287 – Legislature Creates an (Additional) Density Bonus for Very Low- and Middle-Income Households . 2024-10-19 . www.coxcastle.com . en-US.