Senate Bill (SB) 330 (The Housing Crisis Act of 2019) and SB 35 (Affordable Housing Streamlining) are key State legislative measures aimed at streamlining housing development and increasing affordable housing in California, in response to the State’s housing emergency. Qualified housing development projects may opt to invoke the rights afforded by SB 330 and SB 35 by submitting a preliminary application form, including all the information required by subdivision (a) of California Government Code Section 65941.1.
SB 330 prohibits any reduction in the number of existing residential units on a site through a “no net loss” provision with respect to residential housing. It applies to both rental and for-sale units.
A proposed project must match or exceed the greatest number of dwelling units that existed on the project site within the past five years. This applies whether the units are vacant or occupied. A proposed development project that involves the demolition of protected units must include the same number of units of an “equivalent size” as the units that exist on the property. In addition, existing residents who will be displaced shall:
- Be allowed to remain for six months before construction begins, with proper notice;
- Be allowed to return at their prior rental rate if the demolition does not proceed and the property is returned to the rental market;
- Be given relocation benefits; and
- Be given a right of first refusal for a comparable unit in the new project at an affordable rent for a minimum term of 55 years.
Purpose
SB 330 made changes to existing legislation intended to streamline housing development, such as the Permit Streamlining Act and the Housing Accountability Act. The bill has three main goals:
- Increase residential unit development
- Protect existing housing inventory
- Expedite permit processing
Applicability
SB 330 applies to all “housing development projects,” which are defined as a project consisting of [Gov. Code Sections 65589.5(h)(2), 65905.5(b)(3)(A)]:
- Residential units only;
- Mixed-use developments where at least two-thirds of the square footage is designated for residential uses; or
- Transitional housing or supportive housing.
Please note that some aspects of SB 330 apply to housing development projects consisting of only one unit while others do not.
Contact the Planning Division for more information or assistance at (310) 325-7110, ext. 103.
Application
To apply for a project under SB 330, please review and complete the following forms, and include them with your online application: Pre-Review for Building Permit or Development Review.
Consistency Review
Once an application for a housing development project is submitted, SB 330 requires the City to inform the applicant of any inconsistencies or nonconformities the project has with applicable plans, programs, policies, ordinances, standards, requirements or other similar provisions within the following timeframes from the date the application is determined to be complete:
- 30 days if the project has 150 or fewer housing units
- 60 days if the project has more than 150 housing units
Written documentation must be provided supporting these determinations. Failure to comply with these deadlines means the project will be deemed consistent.
Additional Guidance
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