Governor Newsom signed all six of California YIMBY’s bills this session — from cheaper ADUs to more TOD; new UCLA research shows parking mandates are quietly adding tens of thousands in costs per space and 17% to rents… and more
Still Want Free Parking? That’ll Cost $73,000
Housing costs have risen sharply across the U.S. in recent years, prompting cities to examine rules that drive up construction costs. One long-standing and costly rule: parking mandates. A new UCLA analysis of 2025 data from 17 U.S. cities finds…
Cars vs People: The Hard Trade-Off of Parking Mandates
Most cities in California – and the United States – require every new home or business to build a specific number of parking spaces, whether the market demand is there for them or not. A new UCLA research synthesis tracks…
Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Revitalize Cities With Downtown Housing
AB 2074 Streamlines Approvals for Highrise Housing in Seven Cities “California’s largest cities just got a major housing boost” Sacramento – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 2074, a bill by Assembly Member Matt Haney (San Francisco) that…
Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Make Local Housing Fees Transparent
SB 1014 Requires Cities to Disclose All Local Requirements “Home builders deserve to know up front what their projects will cost” Los Angeles – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 1014, a bill by Sen. Tim Grayson (Concord)…
Governor Newsom Signs Bill 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, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 1116, a bill which strengthens the Starter Home Revitalization Act (SB…
Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Lower ADU Costs
SB 1117 Eliminates Arbitrary “Fee Cliff” on “Granny Flats;” Homeowners to Save Thousands “This is an important step toward lowering the cost of new homes” Los Angeles – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 1117, a bill which…
The Homework: September 23, 2026
Several pro-housing bills — lowering ADU costs, speeding approval of transit-area high-rises, and blocking local delay tactics — await Gov. Newsom’s signature; research shows which types of cities tend to build more housing… and more
How Local Politics Influence Housing Affordability
California needs at least 2.5 million new homes by 2030, but most cities are still falling short. A new study examines whether this shortfall is associated with the politics of who lives in these cities, and how those politics determine…
The Case for Filtering and Moving Chains: Evidence from Honolulu
Does building new housing lead to lower rents in older housing? A new study out of Honolulu tests that claim by tracking “moving chains” in a single building, The Central, a 512-home tower in Honolulu, completed in 2021. Each older…