California Legislature Votes to Expand Access to Townhomes, Condos
SB 1116 Strengthens the Starter Home Revitalization Act
“We’re creating more pathways to homeownership for California families”
Los Angeles – Today, the California Legislature voted to approve SB 1116, a bill which strengthens the Starter Home Revitalization Act (SB 684 from 2023, and SB 1123 from 2024), and will lead to the construction of more for-sale townhomes and condominiums. The bill now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk for signature into law.
“Many of California’s most cherished historic neighborhoods feature townhomes, bungalow courts, and other smaller, more affordable homes,” said Brian Hanlon, CEO of California YIMBY. “Decades ago, most cities zoned affordable homeownership out of existence, and now homeownership is at a near 4-decade low. SB 1116 closes loopholes to the recent Starter Home Revitalization Act to give more Californians a shot at homeownership. Thanks to Senator Anna Caballero for her leadership in making California more affordable for everyone.”
SB 1116 enables more starter homes to be built by increasing design flexibility, updating definitions, adding new reporting requirements, and making other improvements and technical clarifications.
The bill builds on California YIMBY’s earlier sponsored legislation, SB 684 (2023, Caballero), which fast-tracks the subdivision of urban lots into for-sale townhomes and condos, and SB 1123 (2024, Caballero), which expanded eligibility of these projects to single-family areas. The latest updates address limitations enacted by local jurisdictions that reduced the number of potential homes that could be built on these lots.