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
In a major win for affordable housing in Los Angeles, on February 5, 2026, a federal court threw out a challenge aimed at stopping a 100% affordable housing project in Echo Park....more
The City of Miami City Commission adopted an ordinance on January 8, 2026, amending both the City of Miami Code of Ordinances and the Miami 21 Zoning Code to establish a new “Resilience Trust Fund.” The fund is intended to...more
California’s density bonus law (Government Code sections 65915-65918) rewards a developer who agrees to build a certain percentage of low-income housing with the opportunity to build more residences than would otherwise be...more
In Rodriguez v. City of Los Angeles, 116 Cal.App.5th 488 (2025), the Second District Court of Appeal held that a recorded density bonus agreement requiring long-term affordable housing survives a foreclosure sale. The court’s...more
After months of high drama, California Senate Bill 79 (“SB 79”) was signed by Governor Newsom on October 10—the latest salvo in a year of ambitious legislation to increase housing supply in California. Effective July 1, 2026...more
California Senate Bill 92 (“SB 92”), introduced in January 2025 by Senator Catherine Blakespear and having been passed by both the California State Assembly and State Senate was approved by the Governor on October 10, 2025....more
On October 10, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 79 (“SB 79”), on what was bill author Senator Scott Wiener’s third attempt at passing such legislation. The Legislature intended to both accommodate...more
On October 11, Governor Newsom signed SB 79 into law. SB 79 is the latest arrow in the quiver of significant reforms to California’s Housing Laws and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which California has...more
On October 10, 2025, Governor Newsom signed SB 79 (Wiener) into law, which effectively eliminates single-family zoning districts within a half-mile of a qualifying transit-oriented development (TOD) stop by imposing...more
California Legislature Passes New Bill to Encourage More Homes Near Transit Capping off a session that achieved major CEQA reforms for housing development, the California Legislature has sent new transit-oriented housing...more
Rhode Island has adopted a slew of new laws concerning land use, zoning, and development. This blog is intended to provide a brief overview of certain noteworthy updates to the law that may be of interest to developers and...more
California is poised to approve legislation that will make it legal to build more multifamily housing near the highest-capacity transit stops across the state, regardless of local zoning restrictions. The California...more
With the current housing shortage in California, coupled with recent regulatory changes, multifamily development is robust throughout the state. Perhaps the most consequential recent change is the reform of the California...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
California’s housing crisis has necessitated innovative legislative solutions at the state and local level to increase the supply of affordable housing across the state. Cities are required by state law to plan for a...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
AB 1893 (Wicks) significantly modified the so-called “Builder’s Remedy” under the Housing Accountability Act (Gov. Code § 65589.5) (HAA) effective January 1, 2025. As explained in our prior legal alert, the Builder’s Remedy...more
AB 2243 (Wicks) amended AB 2011 effective January 1, 2025. As explained in our prior legal alert, AB 2011 provides for “by right” streamlined ministerial (i.e., no CEQA) approval of qualifying mixed-income and affordable...more
In part three of the Housing New Laws series from Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK), attorneys provide synopses of important new housing legislation for 2025 governing local housing elements and State Density Bonus Law. Below are...more
The California Legislature has continued to refine the Density Bonus Law over the years, making important updates to housing laws that impact developers across the state. Recent legislative changes include key updates on...more
Office Use Conversions in Arlington County got a step closer as the county released draft amendments to its zoning ordinance to implement the next phase of the county's Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative (CMRI). This...more
Various state housing bills are currently making their way through the State Legislature that are expected to benefit mixed-income multifamily housing developers. The following summaries reflect the status of the legislation...more
New York state has enacted changes in the housing laws that will have a significant impact on the development and operation of multifamily housing in New York City and the state, and will also ameliorate the effects of...more
In the first part of the Housing New Law Guidance series from Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK), we cover important new housing legislation for 2024 related to adaptive reuse projects, density bonus and accessory dwelling units...more