SB79 Put on Pause by City Council
- Editor
- Nov 12
- 2 min read
Governor Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 79 (SB79), which allows for the construction of multi-family housing near rail, subway, and rapid bus transit stops. The bill, sponsored by Senator Scott Weiner of San Francisco, is designed to create more housing supply, reduce housing costs, and reduce carbon emissions. The bill took eight years of work.
Effective July 1, 2026, the law permits housing projects up to nine stories tall near certain transit stops and up to seven stories for buildings within a quarter-mile (Tier 1). Six-story housing projects would also be allowed for buildings within a half-mile of transit stops (Tier 2).
The Los Angeles City Council voted to oppose SB79 back in August. Mayor Karen Bass and other opponents described the bill as a “one size fits all” solution that would lead to zoning changes that could alter single-family communities, forcing residents into competition
with developers. Supporters discount the claim, stating the law can be customized to individual communities’ needs.
After the law was signed, the City Council requested a review of the potential impacts of the new housing law. In an 11-0 vote last week, the council instructed several departments to analyze the law, provide detailed maps of areas where such denser development projects
would be allowed, assess personnel and financial sources needed for implementation, and how SB79 will work with the city’s existing planning regulations and incentives, utility, and road infrastructure.
Council members also instructed the city attorney to work with them prior to commencing any legal action regarding the bill. The City has some time to review the law and develop an alternate plan, which is permitted by the new law. Further, 5-year moratoriums are allowed for “sensitive areas” adjacent to transit as identified by the City.
Reviewing the City’s draft map of affected areas, no impact from the new law is expected in Silver Lake as our neighborhood does not have any of the transit types listed. As the City updates information, Silver Lake Together will monitor its’ potential effect on our community.
Overview of SB79 from City of Los Angeles Planning Department
Draft Map per City of Los Angeles Planning Department
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