Housing in Brief: Cities Push Back Against California’s Rezoning Laws
April 28, 2022 by In California, the implementation of SB-9, aimed at easing housing restrictions by allowing additional residential units on single-family parcels, has faced significant resistance from cities across the state. Despite the law going into effect in January 2022, many municipalities have passed ordinances that undermine its provisions or declared themselves exempt, exacerbating challenges in housing development oversight. The lack of centralized monitoring and enforcement by state authorities has left violations largely unchecked, relying instead on advocacy groups to identify and report non-compliant laws. This backlash underscores the need for stronger legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to ensure consistent housing policy implementation statewide and mitigate uneven housing development.