California lawmakers just paved the way for a whole lot more housing in the Golden State.
In the waning hours of the 2025 legislative session, the state Senate voted 21 to 8 to approve Senate Bill 79, a landmark housing bill that overrides local zoning laws to expand high-density housing near transit hubs.
The bill had already squeaked through the state Senate by a narrow margin earlier this year, but since it was amended in the following months, it required a second approval.
“Over the last five years, housing affordability and homelessness have consistently been among the top priorities in California.
“SB 79 is what we’ve been working towards for a decade – new housing next to our most frequently used train stations.
The Golden State is about to see a significant increase in housing thanks to the actions of California lawmakers.
The state Senate approved Senate Bill 79, a historic housing bill that overrides local zoning laws to expand high-density housing near transit hubs, by a vote of 21 to 8 in the final hours of the 2025 legislative session. A day after passing the California assembly by a vote of 41 to 17, the contentious bill received its final Senate concurrence vote on Friday.
A second approval was necessary because the bill was amended in the months that followed its narrow passage through the state Senate earlier this year. It will be sent to the governor. The desk of Gavin Newsom in October.
The bill, which was introduced by Sen. in March, is one of the more ambitious state-imposed initiatives to increase housing density in recent years. San Francisco Democrat Scott Wiener emphasizes the urgency with which the state must address California’s housing crisis. In the vicinity of transit corridors like train stations and bus stops, it makes room for taller, denser housing. Buildings next to specific transit stops can be up to nine stories tall, while buildings within a quarter-mile and half-mile can be seven and six stories high, respectively.
The new zoning would apply to single-family communities located within half a mile of transit stops.
Tiers determine the height restrictions. Zoning for heavy rail lines, like the L, is known as Tier 1. a. Buildings with six to nine stories are permitted on the Metro B and D lines, depending on how close the transit hub is. Five- to eight-story buildings are permitted under Tier 2 zoning, which covers light rail lines like the A, C, E, and K lines as well as bus routes with dedicated lanes.
YIMBY Action, a housing non-profit that assisted in passing the bill, fact-checked an amateur map created by a cartographer that provides a sense of the areas surrounding L. A. that would qualify for SB 79 development. Hubs along Wilshire Blvd. are part of Tier 1 zones. the Vermont Avenue. as well as Hollywood Boulevard. along with a few locations in Downtown L. 1. the San Fernando Valley as well.
Exposition Blvd. is .ted with more dispersed Tier 2 zones. extending from Long Beach into the San Gabriel Valley along the A line, continuing along the K line toward Inglewood, and continuing along the E line.
On Thursday night, assembly members argued the bill for about forty minutes before applauding when it was approved.
The affordability of housing and homelessness have continuously been California’s top priorities over the past five years. In support of the bill, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) stated that the best location for new housing development is in existing communities, close to the state’s significant transit investments that link people to employment, educational institutions, and other necessities.
Other assembly members who expressed support included Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale), and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).
Advocates argue that in light of the state’s affordability crisis, extreme measures are required.
We have been working for ten years to build new housing next to our busiest train stations, which is known as SB 79. “Hundreds of thousands of new multi-family homes could be made possible by this bill,” stated Leora Tanjuatco Ross, director of YIMBY Action California.
The broad mandate, according to critics, is an overreach that denies local governments the power to encourage responsible growth.
The bill was opposed by Assemblymember Rick Zbur (D-West Hollywood), who said that because land prices are lower for housing developers, it will have a greater impact on less affluent neighborhoods than on better ones.
The vote took place a few weeks after the Los Angeles City Council voted 8 to 5 in favor of a resolution opposing the bill.
Councilmember John Lee and Councilmember Traci Park, who co-authored the resolution, referred to SB 79 as a “one-size-fits-all mandate from Sacramento.”. Lee dubbed it “chaos.”. “.”.
The resolution demanded L. 1. to not be subject to the upzoning since it already has a housing plan that has been approved by the state.
Numerous protests have been sparked by the bill in Southern California communities, such as San Diego and Pacific Palisades. Residents worry that the zoning changes will change single-family communities and put residents in competition with developers, who would be encouraged to buy properties close to transit corridors under the new regulations.
However, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, a significant labor organization that represents union construction workers, agreed to rescind their opposition in exchange for amendments that allow union hiring on specific projects, which caused support for SB 79 to soar in recent days.
Chris Hannan, president of the trades council, said in a statement following the agreement that the amendments would give California’s skilled construction workforce good jobs and training.
The agreement increased the bill’s chances, according to Wiener, who has made two previous unsuccessful attempts to pass similar legislation.
