Whether enacted individually or collectively, these measures would introduce new limits on association authority, create a state-level complaint process, and restrict HOA’s ability to regulate certain residential uses. Below...more
The California Coastal Commission (the Commission) has long posed a significant hurdle to coastal housing production, even as state law has streamlined residential development elsewhere. But the tide may be turning....more
Plaintiff’s counsel walks out from counsel’s table, dressed in a sleek, navy blue, fully tailored suit, to address the jury in her opening statement. She begins by repeating a common phrase, “A home is someone’s...more
On January 14, 2026, a California Court of Appeal upheld the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certified by the City of American Canyon (American Canyon) and the accompanying water supply assessment (WSA) in City of Vallejo...more
BBK’s 2026 New Laws series focused on Housing examines updates related to transit-oriented development, CEQA, housing accountability and state preemption, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior accessory dwelling unit...more
2026 Housing and Land Use Bills to Watch - The Second Regular Session of the 75th Colorado General Assembly convened on January 14, 2026, and lawmakers have unveiled this year’s housing and land use proposals. In...more
Overview - On 18 December 2025, the New Zealand Government gave notice of three new national direction instruments and made amendments to seven existing ones. These changes are intended to facilitate the transition from...more
As in previous years, California saw a significant volume of new housing legislation emerge from Sacramento in 2025. (See Holland & Knight's previous annual recaps of California Housing Laws in the final section below.) This...more
California continues its legislative push to address the state’s housing crisis, particularly focusing on “middle-housing” projects that bridge the gap between single-family homes and large apartment buildings (e.g.,...more
Few legislative changes in California have become more predictable than the Legislature’s annual revisions to the laws governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs). Recent examples of...more
To address the housing shortage in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis signed Executive Order D 2025 005 (“EO”). This EO, among other things, directs state agencies to determine whether Local Governments are compliant with...more
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 10, 2025, signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 1050 (Schultz) (Chapter 504, Statutes of 2025), effective Jan. 1, 2026, further amending California Civil Code Section 714.61 and expanding the...more
Monday, Oct. 13 marked the final day for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign bills passed during this legislative session by California’s Senate and Assembly. Below is a round-up of key housing-related bills signed by the governor,...more
CHICAGO—Council Approves Coach House Legislation with Restrictions - The Chicago City Council approved coach houses citywide with ward-specific restrictions allowing aldermen to opt in for single-family areas. The compromise...more
A roundup of news and multimedia from the Unfamiliar Terrain team: San Francisco - San Francisco Family Zoning Plan Updates (SF Planning): As of late July, the Planning Department has updated the draft zoning height...more
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced on September 2 a legislative package that he promised would put an end to certain antiquated permitting requirements. The package represents the latest pieces of Permit SF, a larger...more
2025 saw a number of Growth Management Act (GMA) and housing related bills in Washington, which are particularly relevant as planning counties and cities are in the middle of preparing their comprehensive plan updates and as...more
The National Zoning Atlas (NZA) team is digitizing, demystifying, and democratizing information about zoning conditions in more than 33,000 jurisdictions in the United States. Fully comprehending the zoning conditions of a...more
Assembly Bill (AB) 130 and Senate Bill (SB) 131, which became effective on June 30, 2025, are designed to bring sweeping change to California housing and infrastructure development across the state. Key provisions in the...more
PHILADELPHIA—Waymo to Begin Testing Driverless Cars This Summer -Waymo is launching manual test drives of its autonomous vehicles in Philadelphia to familiarize its technology with the city. While public rides are not yet...more
California stands at a pivotal juncture in 2025, confronting an array of environmental and housing challenges. As usual, the California State Legislature is considering numerous strategies to address these issues. This year’s...more
Various state housing bills are currently making their way through the California State Legislature that are expected to benefit mixed-income multifamily housing developers. The following summaries reflect the status of the...more
For property owners in California’s coastal zone hoping to rebuild after the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, including the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, obtaining building permits from their local government may not be...more
The San Diego City Council voted on March 4, 2025, to begin the process of revising its Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Bonus Program (ADU Bonus Program or Program), which has served, to date, as one of the state’s most...more