California's Housing Solution: SB 684 & SB 1123

California faces a 3.5 million home shortage, driving housing costs beyond reach for many residents. Two bills – SB 684 and SB 1123 – address this by streamlining development in multifamily and single-family zones.

SB 684: Multifamily Zone Development Effective July 2024, SB 684 streamlines small-scale housing projects in multifamily zones. Projects of 10 or fewer units on lots under 5 acres can bypass discretionary reviews. The bill allows dense development (30 units per acre minimum) with 4-foot setbacks while protecting lower-income residents from displacement.

SB 1123: Single-Family Zone Extension SB 1123 (September 2024) extends similar provisions to vacant lots in single-family zones. The main distinction is lot size: 1,200 square feet minimum in single-family zones versus 600 square feet in multifamily areas.

Implementation Guidelines Key requirements for developers: • 60-day approval timeline • Environmental impact consideration • Local design standard compliance • Minimal parking requirements (one space per unit, zero near transit) • ADU/JADU allowances with restrictions • Coastal Development Permit requirements in Coastal Zones

Impact These bills create housing opportunities through: • Faster approval processes • Development in previously restricted areas • Support for various ownership models • Protection for existing communities

The effectiveness of these bills depends on coordination between developers and local governments in implementation.