Last month, the California Legislature passed SB 79, a major upzoning bill authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D‑San Francisco). If the Governor signs it, the law is expected to accelerate multifamily housing construction near public transit.
Under SB 79, cities would generally be required to allow mid‑rise, multi‑family housing within a half‑mile of major transit stops, even in areas currently zoned for single‑family residential use. In zones closest to high‑quality transit, new buildings might rise as high seven to nine stories.
SB 79 is limited to “urban transit counties” with more than 15 passenger rail stations. These include Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Mateo.
The City of Los Angeles would likely see a surge in mid‑rise development under this mandate. Thanks to the Los Angeles Planning Department, you can find out how your L.A. neighborhood would be affected. The department has published a preliminary, interactive map showing which blocks would be eligible for denser housing under SB 79.
Simply click here and scroll down to the bottom to find the interactive map. Once you expand the map, use the search tool to input your address and see if it falls into a half-mile or quarter-mile transit radius.