Overview

• SB 79 overrides local zoning near qualifying rail and bus rapid transit stops in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sacramento counties.
• Tiered standards allow up to nine stories adjacent to Tier 1 stops (such as BART, Caltrain and LA Metro B and D), seven stories within a quarter mile and six within a half mile; Tier 2 areas allow 8/6/5 stories at the same distances.
• The law streamlines approvals for projects within a half mile of major transit and lets transit agencies set zoning for housing on their own properties.
• After roughly 13 amendments, the measure includes carve‑outs and deferrals, including exemptions for high fire‑risk and historic zones, options for smaller cities to limit areas to a quarter mile, and affordability set‑asides.
• Supporters including California YIMBY hailed the bill as a major step to boost housing near transit, while Los Angeles officials including Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council opposed it over concerns about local control and neighborhood impacts.