Bill Text: CA SB478 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Planning and Zoning Law: housing development projects.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 363, Statutes of 2021. [SB478 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB478-Amended.html

---

Amended  IN  Assembly  June 24, 2021

Amended  IN  Senate  May 20, 2021

Amended  IN  Senate  April 12, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 478

---

Introduced by Senator Wiener

February 17, 2021

---

An act to add Section 4747 to the Civil Code, and to amend Section 65585 of, and to add Section 65913.11 to, the Government Code, relating to housing.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 478, as amended, Wiener. Planning and Zoning Law: housing development projects.

The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development within its boundaries that includes, among other things, a housing element. The law also requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to notify the city, county, or city and county, and authorizes the department to notify the Attorney General, that the city, county, or city and county is in violation of state law if the department finds that the housing element or an amendment to that element, or any specified action or failure to act, does not substantially comply with the law as it pertains to housing elements or that any local government has taken an action in violation of certain housing laws.

Existing law, the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, governs the management and operation of common interest developments. Existing law makes void and unenforceable any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in a planned development, and any provision of a governing document, that effectively prohibits or unreasonably restricts the construction or use of an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit on a lot zoned for single-family residential use that meets specified standards.

This bill would prohibit a local agency, as defined, from imposing a floor-to-area ratio standard that is less than 1.0 on a housing development project that consists of 3 to 7 units, or less than 1.25 on a housing development project that consists of 8 to 10 units. The bill would prohibit a local agency from imposing a lot coverage requirement that would preclude a housing development project from achieving the floor-to-area ratios described above. The bill would prohibit a local agency from denying a housing development project located on an existing legal parcel solely on the basis that the lot area of the proposed lot does not meet the local agency’s requirements for minimum lot size. The bill would only apply to housing development projects that meet specified requirements, including, among other things, that the project be located in a multifamily residential zone or a mixed-use zone, as specified. The bill would additionally require the department to identify violations by a local government of these provisions, as described above.

This bill would make void and unenforceable any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in a planned development, and any provision of a governing document, that effectively prohibits or unreasonably restricts a housing development project from using the floor-to-area ratio standards authorized under the provisions described above. The bill would provide that it does not apply to provisions that impose reasonable restrictions, as defined, that do not make the implementation of a project subject to the above-described provisions infeasible.

The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

---

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 4747 is added to the Civil Code, to read:

4747.

 (a) Any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in a planned development, and any provision of a governing document, is void and unenforceable if it effectively prohibits or unreasonably restricts an eligible housing development project from using the floor-to-area ratio standards authorized under Section 65913.11 of the Government Code.

(b) This section does not apply to provisions that impose reasonable restrictions on an eligible housing development that do not make the implementation of the floor-to-area standards authorized in Section 65913.11 of the Government Code infeasible.

(c) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Eligible housing development project” means a housing development project that meets the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 65913.11 of the Government Code.

(2) “Reasonable restrictions” means restrictions that do not unreasonably increase the cost to construct, effectively prohibit the construction of, or extinguish the ability to otherwise construct an eligible housing development project using the floor-to-area ratio standards in a manner authorized by Section 65913.11 of the Government Code.

(d) The Legislature finds and declares that ensuring the adequate production of affordable housing the provision of adequate housing, in light of the severe shortage of housing at all income levels in this state, is a matter of statewide concern and that this section serves a significant and legitimate public purpose by eliminating potential restrictions that could inhibit the production of affordable adequate housing.

SEC. 2.

 Section 65585 of the Government Code is amended to read:

65585.

 (a) In the preparation of its housing element, each city and county shall consider the guidelines adopted by the department pursuant to Section 50459 of the Health and Safety Code. Those guidelines shall be advisory to each city or county in the preparation of its housing element.

(b) (1) At least 90 days prior to adoption of its housing element, or at least 60 days prior to the adoption of an amendment to this element, the planning agency shall submit a draft element or draft amendment to the department.

(2) The planning agency staff shall collect and compile the public comments regarding the housing element received by the city, county, or city and county, and provide these comments to each member of the legislative body before it adopts the housing element.

(3) The department shall review the draft and report its written findings to the planning agency within 90 days of its receipt of the draft in the case of an adoption or within 60 days of its receipt in the case of a draft amendment.

(c) In the preparation of its findings, the department may consult with any public agency, group, or person. The department shall receive and consider any written comments from any public agency, group, or person regarding the draft or adopted element or amendment under review.

(d) In its written findings, the department shall determine whether the draft element or draft amendment substantially complies with this article.

(e) Prior to the adoption of its draft element or draft amendment, the legislative body shall consider the findings made by the department. If the department’s findings are not available within the time limits set by this section, the legislative body may act without them.

(f) If the department finds that the draft element or draft amendment does not substantially comply with this article, the legislative body shall take one of the following actions:

(1) Change the draft element or draft amendment to substantially comply with this article.

(2) Adopt the draft element or draft amendment without changes. The legislative body shall include in its resolution of adoption written findings which explain the reasons the legislative body believes that the draft element or draft amendment substantially complies with this article despite the findings of the department.

(g) Promptly following the adoption of its element or amendment, the planning agency shall submit a copy to the department.

(h) The department shall, within 90 days, review adopted housing elements or amendments and report its findings to the planning agency.

(i) (1) (A) The department shall review any action or failure to act by the city, county, or city and county that it determines is inconsistent with an adopted housing element or Section 65583, including any failure to implement any program actions included in the housing element pursuant to Section 65583. The department shall issue written findings to the city, county, or city and county as to whether the action or failure to act substantially complies with this article, and provide a reasonable time no longer than 30 days for the city, county, or city and county to respond to the findings before taking any other action authorized by this section, including the action authorized by subparagraph (B).

(B) If the department finds that the action or failure to act by the city, county, or city and county does not substantially comply with this article, and if it has issued findings pursuant to this section that an amendment to the housing element substantially complies with this article, the department may revoke its findings until it determines that the city, county, or city and county has come into compliance with this article.

(2) The department may consult with any local government, public agency, group, or person, and shall receive and consider any written comments from any public agency, group, or person, regarding the action or failure to act by the city, county, or city and county described in paragraph (1), in determining whether the housing element substantially complies with this article.

(j) The department shall notify the city, county, or city and county and may notify the office of the Attorney General that the city, county, or city and county is in violation of state law if the department finds that the housing element or an amendment to this element, or any action or failure to act described in subdivision (i), does not substantially comply with this article or that any local government has taken an action in violation of the following:

(1) Housing Accountability Act (Section 65589.5).

(2) Section 65863.

(3) Chapter 4.3 (commencing with Section 65915) of Division 1 of Title 7.

(4) Section 65008.

(5) Section 65913.11.

(k) Commencing July 1, 2019, prior to the Attorney General bringing any suit for a violation of the provisions identified in subdivision (j) related to housing element compliance and seeking remedies available pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall offer the jurisdiction the opportunity for two meetings in person or via telephone to discuss the violation, and shall provide the jurisdiction written findings regarding the violation. This paragraph does not affect any action filed prior to the effective date of this section. The requirements set forth in this subdivision do not apply to any suits brought for a violation or violations of paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of subdivision (j).

(l) In any action or special proceeding brought by the Attorney General relating to housing element compliance pursuant to a notice or referral under subdivision (j), the Attorney General may request, upon a finding of the court that the housing element does not substantially comply with the requirements of this article pursuant to this section, that the court issue an order or judgment directing the jurisdiction to bring its housing element into substantial compliance with the requirements of this article. The court shall retain jurisdiction to ensure that its order or judgment is carried out. If a court determines that the housing element of the jurisdiction substantially complies with this article, it shall have the same force and effect, for purposes of eligibility for any financial assistance that requires a housing element in substantial compliance and for purposes of any incentives provided under Section 65589.9, as a determination by the department that the housing element substantially complies with this article.

(1) If the jurisdiction has not complied with the order or judgment after twelve 12 months, the court shall conduct a status conference. Following the status conference, upon a determination that the jurisdiction failed to comply with the order or judgment compelling substantial compliance with the requirements of this article, the court shall impose fines on the jurisdiction, which shall be deposited into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund. Any fine levied pursuant to this paragraph shall be in a minimum amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per month, but shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per month, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). In the event that the jurisdiction fails to pay fines imposed by the court in full and on time, the court may require the Controller to intercept any available state and local funds and direct such funds to the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund to correct the jurisdiction’s failure to pay. The intercept of the funds by the Controller for this purpose shall not violate any provision of the California Constitution.

(2) If the jurisdiction has not complied with the order or judgment after three months following the imposition of fees described in paragraph (1), the court shall conduct a status conference. Following the status conference, if the court finds that the fees imposed pursuant to paragraph (1) are insufficient to bring the jurisdiction into compliance with the order or judgment, the court may multiply the fine determined pursuant to paragraph (1) by a factor of three. In the event that the jurisdiction fails to pay fines imposed by the court in full and on time, the court may require the Controller to intercept any available state and local funds and direct such funds to the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund to correct the jurisdiction’s failure to pay. The intercept of the funds by the Controller for this purpose shall not violate any provision of the California Constitution.

(3) If the jurisdiction has not complied with the order or judgment six months following the imposition of fees described in paragraph (1), the court shall conduct a status conference. Upon a determination that the jurisdiction failed to comply with the order or judgment, the court may impose the following:

(A) If the court finds that the fees imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) are insufficient to bring the jurisdiction into compliance with the order or judgment, the court may multiply the fine determined pursuant to paragraph (1) by a factor of six. In the event that the jurisdiction fails to pay fines imposed by the court in full and on time, the court may require the Controller to intercept any available state and local funds and direct such funds to the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund to correct the jurisdiction’s failure to pay. The intercept of the funds by the Controller for this purpose shall not violate any provision of the California Constitution.

(B) The court may order remedies available pursuant to Section 564 of the Code of Civil Procedure, under which the agent of the court may take all governmental actions necessary to bring the jurisdiction’s housing element into substantial compliance pursuant to this article in order to remedy identified deficiencies. The court shall determine whether the housing element of the jurisdiction substantially complies with this article and, once the court makes that determination, it shall have the same force and effect, for all purposes, as the department’s determination that the housing element substantially complies with this article. An agent appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall have expertise in planning in California.

(4) This subdivision does not limit a court’s discretion to apply any and all remedies in an action or special proceeding for a violation of any law identified in subdivision (j).

(m) In determining the application of the remedies available under subdivision (l), the court shall consider whether there are any mitigating circumstances delaying the jurisdiction from coming into compliance with state housing law. The court may consider whether a city, county, or city and county is making a good faith effort to come into substantial compliance or is facing substantial undue hardships.

(n) The office of the Attorney General may seek all remedies available under law including those set forth in this section.

SEC. 3.

 Section 65913.11 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65913.11.

 (a) With respect to a housing development project that meets the requirements of subdivision (b), a local agency shall not do any of the following:

(1) For a housing development project consisting of three to seven units, impose a floor-to-area ratio standard that is less than 1.0.

(2) For a housing development project consisting of 8 to 10 units, impose a floor-to-area ratio standard that is less than 1.25.

(3) Deny a housing development project located on an existing legal parcel solely on the basis that the lot area of the proposed lot does not meet the local agency’s requirements for minimum lot size.

(b) To be eligible for the provisions in subdivision (a), a housing development project shall meet all of the following conditions:

(1) The project consists of at least 3, but not more than 10, units.

(2) The project is located in a multifamily residential zone or a mixed-use zone, as designated by the local agency, and is not located in either of the following:

(A) Within a single-family zone.

(B) Within a historic district or property included on the State Historic Resources Inventory, as defined in Section 5020.1 of the Public Resources Code, or within a site that is designated or listed as a city or county landmark or historic property or district pursuant to a city or county ordinance.

(3) The project is located on a legal parcel or parcels located in a city if, and only if, the city boundaries include some portion of either an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau, or, for unincorporated areas, a legal parcel or parcels wholly within the boundaries of an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau.

(c) (1) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a local agency from imposing any zoning or design standards, including, but not limited to, building height and setbacks, on a housing development project that meets the requirements of subdivision (b), other than zoning or design standards that establish floor-to-area ratios or lot size requirements that expressly conflict with the standards in subdivision (a).

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a local agency may not impose a lot coverage requirement that would preclude a housing development project that meets the requirements established in subdivision (b) from achieving the floor-to-area ratio allowed in subdivision (a).

(d) As used in this section:

(1) “Housing development project” means a housing development project as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5.

(2) “Local agency” means a county, city, or city and county, including a charter city, or city and county.

(3) “Unit” means a unit of housing, but shall not include an accessory dwelling unit or a junior accessory dwelling unit.

SEC. 4.

 The Legislature finds and declares that missing middle housing is naturally affordable, and therefore, the development of missing middle housing the provision of adequate housing, in light of the severe shortage of housing at all income levels in this state, is a matter of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, Section 2 of this act amending Section 65585 of, and Section 3 of this act adding Section 65913.11 to, the Government Code apply to all cities, including charter cities.