Los Angeles City Council Orders Impact Assessment of New Housing Density Law

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted today to assess the potential impacts of Senate Bill 79, a recently enacted state law allowing for increased housing density near public transportation corridors.

In a 11-0 decision, council members directed city departments to analyze the law, map areas eligible for denser development, determine necessary resources for implementation, and evaluate its compatibility with existing city planning regulations. The assessment will also cover potential effects on the city’s infrastructure and utility systems. The move comes despite previous opposition from the city and its mayor, and as California grapples with a severe housing shortage.

SB 79, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener and signed into law on October 10th, permits housing projects up to nine stories tall near qualifying transit stops and up to seven stories within a quarter-mile radius. Six-story projects are allowed within a half-mile. Governor Gavin Newsom stated, “All Californians deserve an affordable place to live — close to jobs, schools, and opportunity.” The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026. Concerns raised by council members center on potential impacts to neighborhoods without adequate environmental review, as detailed in previous resolutions against the bill. You can find more information about California’s housing crisis at the Public Policy Institute of California.

The city attorney will collaborate with the council before any legal challenges to SB 79 are considered. Councilmember Traci Park previously called the bill a “one-size-fits-all mandate from Sacramento.” The council will await the results of the assessment before determining its next steps regarding implementation of the new law, and will consider how it interacts with the city’s existing planning and land use regulations.