New bill aims to boost affordable homeownership in San Diego

State Assemblymember David Alvarez introduces AB 2433 to expand affordable homeownership and streamline development in San Diego and across California.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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San Diego lawmakers are pushing a new bill they say would accelerate affordable housing development and help more residents put down roots in the region. State Assemblyman David Alvarez announced AB 2433, known as the Affordable Homes Bonus Law, as the city continues to confront a housing shortage. The legislation is focused on families thinking about their long-term future and would build on California's current density bonus law to allow developers to stack density bonuses and use streamlined approval processes for affordable housing units built to sell to low- and moderate-income buyers.

Why it matters

The push for additional incentives comes as the city releases new housing data showing progress is being made but acknowledging the need for significantly more permanent affordable housing. The goal is to help working professionals like teachers and other professionals afford homes in the expensive San Diego market.

The details

AB 2433 would reduce certain requirements, including parking mandates, in an effort to cut red tape and build faster, without requiring government subsidies. Developers say the existing density bonus program has already delivered results, with 140,000 new homes approved across California for the past five years and rents starting to drop for the first time in 15 years.

  • AB 2433 must still move through several legislative committees and pass the state Senate before it can reach the governor's desk for a signature.

The players

David Alvarez

A state Assemblymember who introduced AB 2433, known as the Affordable Homes Bonus Law.

Rammy Cortez

A developer who says the existing density bonus program has already delivered results.

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What they’re saying

“People who have children, like I do, are thinking about the future of their children. Are they gonna be able to live here in San Diego or in California? And the truth is that most people think that the answer to that is no.”

— David Alvarez, State Assemblymember (nbcsandiego.com)

“The program is working so great: 140,000 new homes have been approved across California for the past five years, and for the first time in 15 years, we have started to see rents drop.”

— Rammy Cortez, Developer (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

AB 2433 must still move through several legislative committees and pass the state Senate before it can reach the governor's desk for a signature.

The takeaway

This new bill aims to further incentivize affordable housing development in San Diego, building on the success of the existing density bonus program to help working professionals like teachers and other middle-income earners afford homes in the expensive local market.