California Cities Weigh Options as Major Housing Law Takes Effect

Local governments explore ways to comply with, delay, or fight new state law allowing taller apartment buildings near transit stops.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:59pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A vibrant, abstract painting in overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes of orange, yellow, and red, depicting the dynamic changes to a city skyline with cranes and construction, conceptually representing the tensions over California's new housing policies.As California cities grapple with a new state housing law, the rapid transformation of urban neighborhoods is captured in a dynamic, fractured painting.Los Angeles Today

As a new state law allowing taller apartment buildings near transit stops takes effect on July 1, cities across California are scrambling to decide how to respond. Some, like Los Angeles and San Francisco, are looking to delay implementation or create their own local plans that meet the law's requirements. Others, like Sacramento, plan to largely accept the state-mandated zoning changes. The debate highlights the tension between local control and the state's efforts to spur more housing development.

Why it matters

This law is a major shift in California's housing policy, giving the state more power to override local zoning rules in an effort to boost housing production near transit. How cities choose to respond will impact the pace and location of new development in their communities, as well as the balance of power between state and local governments on land use decisions.

The details

Senate Bill 79, passed last fall, allows developers to build mid-rise apartment buildings up to 9 stories tall in neighborhoods near major transit stops, overriding local zoning rules. Cities have several options: they can quickly adopt the state's requirements, delay implementation to buy time for their own plans, or explore legal challenges. Los Angeles, for example, voted to temporarily exempt certain neighborhoods while allowing more density in others to qualify for a delay until 2030. San Francisco plans to roll out its own version before the July 1 deadline. Other cities like Sacramento will largely accept the state law. The debate highlights the tension between local control and the state's housing goals.

  • SB 79 goes into effect on July 1, 2026.
  • Los Angeles voted last month to delay implementation until 2030 in certain neighborhoods.
  • San Francisco plans to unveil its own version of the law later this month, before the July 1 deadline.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California, who has criticized some cities' efforts to shield neighborhoods from the requirements of the new housing law.

Katy Yaroslavsky

A Los Angeles City Council member who supported the city's strategy of delaying implementation in order to develop a local alternative plan.

Scott Epstein

The policy and research director with Abundant Housing Los Angeles, a pro-development advocacy group that is concerned Los Angeles' approach will not actually produce much new housing.

Aaron Eckhouse

The local policy programs director for California YIMBY, one of the sponsors of SB 79, who sees a silver lining in Los Angeles' delay tactic.

William Gilchrist

The Oakland Planning Director, who argued the city should take time to develop an alternative plan rather than rushing to implement the state law.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're pretty concerned that this is not actually going to produce housing.”

— Scott Epstein, Policy and Research Director, Abundant Housing Los Angeles

“On the one hand, it's disappointing because we're delaying the full potential of the law. But it is still happening, because the state forced the issue.”

— Aaron Eckhouse, Local Policy Programs Director, California YIMBY

“It adds meaningful housing capacity now and gives us time to decide where the rest of density should go within our own communities.”

— Katy Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Council Member

What’s next

The California Department of Housing and Community Development will need to review and approve any alternative plans developed by cities that seek to deviate from the state's requirements. Cities that do not comply with the law by the July 1 deadline will be forced to accept the state-mandated zoning changes.

The takeaway

This new state housing law has sparked a scramble among California cities to either embrace, delay, or fight the changes it mandates. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between local control and the state's efforts to spur more housing development, with cities weighing their options to shape the law's implementation in their communities.