California YIMBY

SB 79 Is on Track: What HCD’s New Advisory Memo Means

Big picture: HCD has provided new clarity, and we are full steam ahead on SB 79 implementation. HCD just released a new advisory memo to help California’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations map SB 79’s coverage in the state’s 4 major metros.…

Economists Put a Price on Obtaining a Building Permit in LA. It’s Not Small.

If you want to build something in Los Angeles County, waiting for a permit takes time — and now there’s a study estimating the cost of that wait. Researchers find that vacant land with an approved building permit sells for…

The Most Bipartisan Climate Policy is Housing Policy

The average American spends 170% more time stuck in traffic today than in 1980, and a new report argues that this is because uncoordinated state and local zoning decisions have made car dependence the default, pushing people toward longer drives…

How Cities Use Government Housing Subsidies for … Parks and Roads?

Across the state of California, cities, school districts, and utility agencies levy “impact fees” on new housing construction to pay for roads, parks, sewers, and other public services. These fees are often applied equally to both market-rate and government-subsidized affordable…

Shining a Light on the Black Box of Building Codes

Modern building codes are designed to ensure the safety and comfort of the residents of new buildings. By regulating issues such as building materials, fire safety, stairway design, and other common building elements, building codes help make sure that our…

Building Beautiful Homes

The Next Phase of California’s Pro-Housing Reforms By Eduardo Mendoza California is finally making it easier to build more housing – but the next fight is whether people like what gets built. Ugly and cheap-looking buildings can turn housing-neutral voters…

California’s Climate Progress – Snarled in Traffic?

Since it first passed landmark climate legislation in 2006, California has been focusing on squeezing climate pollution out of every sector of its economy – and much of this has been successful. But California’s relative success in areas like electricity…