SB 478
SB 478 will stop the misuse of floor area ratio and minimum lot size requirements that prevent the construction of multifamily buildings in areas already zoned to allow them.
Floor area ratio restrictions control how large a building can be, based on the size of the parcel of land. Many cities misuse this restriction to prevent multifamily housing: for instance city of Del Mar restricts floor area ratio to .35—meaning the building’s total floor space can take up only 35% of the total lot size. For example, a 2000 square foot lot would only be allowed to have a duplex that is 700 square feet total—350 square feet per home. Minimum lot size requirements identify the smallest lot that can legally be created within a local jurisdiction. If the minimum lot size is large (in some areas as much as an acre) a builder must pay for a much larger piece of land than is needed—discouraging or preventing development. SB 478 will establish a 1.5 floor area ratio standard for land zoned for missing middle housing (between 2 and 10 homes). This will help ensure multifamily housing can actually be built in areas that zone for it. The bill sets a minimum lot size for 2-4 home parcels and a separate, sustainable minimum lot size for 5-10 home parcels. SB 478 is a part of the Senate’s Building Opportunities for All housing package. Learn more about this package of legislation here.
Updates
- 9/28/2021: SB 478 was signed by Governor Newsom and chaptered by the Secretary of State. This bill went into effect on January 1, 2022. Read our statement here.
Authors
Scott Wiener (D, SD 11)
Sponsor
California YIMBY
Resources
Press Coverage
Senator Wiener Introduces Four Bills to Spur Housing Production and Address California Housing Crisis – Davis Vanguard
San Francisco legislators push housing bills – Bay Area Reporter
Wiener aims to eliminate ‘poison pill’ to multifamily housing with new legislation – SF Business Journal
Could these bills help California build more affordable housing? – Cal Matters
Supporters
- Council Member Jon Wizard, City of Seaside Council Member
- Zach Hilton, City of Gilroy
- AARP
- Abundant Housing LA
- ADU Task Force East Bay
- All Home
- American Planning Association, California Chapter
- Bay Area Council
- Bridge Housing Corporation
- Cal Chamber
- California Apartment Association
- California YIMBY
- Casita Coalition
- California Building Industry Association
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
- Circulate San Diego
- City of Oakland
- City of San Diego
- East Bay for Everyone
- Fieldstead and Company
- Generation Housing
- Greenbelt Alliance
- Habitat for Humanity California
- Hello Housing
- Housing Action Coalition
- Local Government Commission
- Los Angeles Business Council
- Midpen Housing
- Modular Building Institute
- Mountain View YIMBY
- National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
- Non-profit Housing Association of Northern California
- North Bay Leadership Council
- Northern Neighbors
- Peninsula for Everyone
- People for Housing – Orange County
- San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
- San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Research Association (SPUR)
- San Francisco YIMBY
- Sand Hill Property Company
- Share Sonoma County
- Silicon Valley Leadership Group
- South Bay Cities Council of Governments
- South Bay YIMBY
- South Pasadena Residents for Responsible Growth