Has California’s spate of recent laws to build more housing worked? A report published today holds some answers.
Its conclusion? Outlook not so good.
As CalMatters’ Ben Christopher explains, YIMBY Law, a pro-housing development nonprofit, looked at five California laws. Those include one from 2021 allowing people to split their single-family homes into duplexes; and another from 2024 enabling churches and other places of worship to build affordable housing on their properties.
It found that while the laws chip away at regulatory barriers to encourage the construction of more apartments and other dense housing developments, they have had “limited to no impact on the state’s housing supply.”
Few projects have broken ground that take advantage of the laws: Under the 2021 duplex law, for instance, building permits for only 140 units were issued in 2023. And no religious institution has taken part so far in 2024’s “Yes In God’s Backyard law.”
YIMBY Law’s executive director said part of the reason the laws have been ineffective is because they include strict requirements and loopholes, such as mandates for developers to only hire union workers or pay workers higher wages. Developers are also at times required to sell or rent units below market prices, which render building affordable housing less financially appealing.
There are other possible reasons that discourage construction in California. For example: high interest rates, a labor shortage of construction workers and rising costs for materials. Housing industry experts say these construction headwinds are likely to intensify under President Donald Trump administration’s policies related to tariffs and immigration.
Drastic layoffs expected at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds housing and homelessness services, could further strain state efforts to make housing more affordable.
CalMatters events: On Tuesday CalMatters’ Adam Echelman will hold a panel to discuss what the state is doing to help employment outcomes for young Californians. Register here to attend in person at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles or virtually. Then on Wednesday, CalMatters’ Kristen Hwang speaks with Assemblymember Mia Bonta about the state’s maternity care crisis. Register here to attend virtually.
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Narrowing CA’s ‘sanctuary law’
On Friday Republican Sens. Brian Jones of San Diego and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh of Redlands promoted a bill that would limit parts of California’s “sanctuary law” and ban local governments from enacting policies that go beyond the 2017 immigration legislation.
Federal immigration enforcement agents can arrest and deport undocumented people living in California. But under current state sanctuary law, local law enforcement officers have the option to cooperate with federal agents who are investigating people for certain serious or violent felonies.
The proposed Senate Bill 554 would make this a requirement instead, and would restrict cities from passing sanctuary policies that are stronger than the state’s.
During an event in San Diego, Jones said the bill is a direct response to a controversial resolution that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors passed in December prohibiting local officers from helping federal agents arrest people, “regardless of the person’s criminal history,” according to the Voice of San Diego.
- Jones, GOP Senate leader: “This bill ensures violent criminals are not shielded from federal immigration authorities using every tool in the toolbox to keep our communities safe.”
Speaking of the Legislature: Friday marked the deadline for legislators to introduce bills for the 2025 session. Following a new rule to limit the number of bills, a total of 2,350 bills were introduced: 1,500 in the Assembly and 850 in the Senate, reports longtime lobbyist Chris Micheli.
CalMatters on the radio
CalMatters isn’t just online or on PBS; you can also hear us daily on public radio partner stations all across the state.
Check out some of our reporters’ radio appearances this month:
- CalMatters College Journalism fellows Mercy Sosa and Delilah Brumer joined CapRadio’s Insight to talk about their coverage on a spike in immigration legal services at colleges and universities across the state.
- Investigations reporter Sergio Olmos, joined KCRW’s Good Food podcast to discuss his coverage on immigration raids in Kern County.
- Health reporter Kristen Hwang spoke with LAist’s AirTalk about her coverage on LA health clinics losing funding for transgender health care.
- Health reporter Ana Ibarra joined Fresno-based Radio Bilingüe, which broadcasts bilingual content across the country and in Mexico, to discuss her explainer on California’s sanctuary law.
And lastly: Updated fire-hazard maps
A lot of California has a wildfire risk, with over 2.3 million acres in high-risk zones. CalMatters environment reporter Julie Cart and video strategy director Robert Meeks have a video segment on what Cal Fire’s new fire-hazard maps reveal as part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.
SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.
California Voices
It’s time California lawmakers hold oil and gas companies financially accountable for climate disasters, writes Nico Gardner, chapter coordinator for the Sunrise Movement in L.A.
Other things worth your time:
LA mayor dismisses fire chief over response to LA wildfire // AP News
Trump aide says conditions on federal aid to LA will target CA Coastal Commission // Los Angeles Times
Gov. Newsom sends Congress $40B request for LA fire aid // Politico
Newsom launches digital democracy tool with initial focus on wildfire victims // Los Angeles Times
State Farm vs. CA: In the battle over insurance rates, you could lose either way // San Francisco Chronicle
Cal Fire seeks to help tribes bring ‘good fire’ to local reservations // The San Diego Union-Tribune
Proposed CA legislation aims to address affordable housing for educators // EdSource
Amid low vaccine rates, more than 900 Californians have died from the flu so far this season // Los Angeles Times
Funding proposal in Congress could expand police use of drones in Southern CA // The Orange County Register
CA’s almond crop threatened by ‘catastrophic’ honeybee losses // San Francisco Chronicle