SB 1117 Eliminates Arbitrary “Fee Cliff” ; Homeowners to Save Thousands “This is an important step toward lowering the cost of new homes.” Los Angeles – Today, the California Legislature voted to approve SB 1117, a bill which eliminates arbitrary…
The Homework: August 12, 2026
California YIMBY-sponsored bills lowering costs on ADUs and streamlining starter homes advance, a study found inclusionary zoning cuts homebuilding 32%, and California sued 5 cities for violating state housing laws.
California Cities Wanted Free Affordable Housing. Turns Out There’s a Huge Cost.
More than a third of California cities and counties, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and fast-growing suburbs like Dublin and Irvine, require private home builders to set aside a portion of the homes they build at below-market rents…
Lower Fees Lead to More Homes and More Revenues
One of the many levers that California cities control that directly influence housing production is the one-time fee they charge builders to help cover roads, parks, and other public infrastructure. A new RAND Corporation study by Lizhong Liu and Jason…
SB 79, One Month In: Taking Stock of California YIMBY’s Signature Bill
SB 79, California YIMBY’s signature legislation that legalized apartment buildings near transit stops throughout California, went into effect on July 1, 2026. Under the law’s provisions, jurisdictions throughout the state must now begin implementation, which includes various pathways to achieve…
The Homework: July 6, 2026
Many of our 2026 bills pass their policy committees! Building more apartments is good for the planet, and we explore one reason public transit is more expensive in the U.S. than Europe.
One Reason Why American Public Transit is More Expensive to Build than in Europe
America pays roughly 50 percent more per mile for public transit than comparable countries do, and a little-examined culprit is the community engagement process meant to improve projects. A new analysis from the Urban Institute finds that poorly structured public…
Why Building More Apartments is Good for the Planet
Building apartments in American cities is one of the most effective climate strategies available right now. While federal EV incentives are gutted and gas-ban building codes face litigation across the country, apartment construction continues to reduce climate pollution through four…
LA Material: The new housing law that could reshape your neighborhood
The Homework: June 4, 2026
Here’s how many of our 2026 primary endorsements fared. We also show that sprawl costs households a lot of money, but compact urban development saves money.