Newsom Signs Bill for Denser Transit-Adjacent Housing in CA

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 79, a transformative law that overrides local zoning rules to allow denser residential development around transit hubs statewide. The goal: unlock housing near BART, Caltrain, Muni, and San Diego Trolley lines.

Authored by Senator Scott Wiener, the law aims to cut through restrictive land-use policies that have long limited housing supply and driven prices upward. It takes effect in July 2026 and will phase in, especially in cities undergoing rezoning like San Francisco.

Supporters say SB 79 addresses long-standing barriers by forcing jurisdictions to permit multifamily and dense apartment projects near transit. Critics argue the law leans too heavily on market-rate development and may not achieve deep affordability.

Implementation will test local governments:

• How to integrate increased density with existing infrastructure
• Whether municipalities can still influence design, setbacks, and public amenities
• Balancing scale and context in transit corridors

If effective, SB 79 could become a model for state-level housing reform that reframes the relationship between local zoning power and regional housing goals.

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