Planning and zoning: development conditions: housing-forward jurisdictions.

Assembly Member Ahrens proposes new authority for California jurisdictions meeting housing production targets to maintain development standards when approving density bonus projects. The legislation creates a "housing-forward" designation for cities and counties that have achieved their Regional Housing Needs Assessment goals and received prohousing status from the Department of Housing and Community Development.

The bill establishes minimum thresholds that housing-forward jurisdictions can enforce even when developers utilize density bonuses. These include preserving required commercial ground floor space to at least half the ground floor area, maintaining bicycle parking at one long-term space per unit plus short-term spaces, and requiring showers in mixed-use developments based on square footage. The measure also permits jurisdictions to assess impact fees on accessory dwelling units in multifamily projects, though fees cannot exceed those charged for standard residential units.

These provisions would take effect January 1, 2026 and apply to all housing development applications, whether processed through streamlined approval or discretionary review. The bill exempts junior accessory dwelling units and ADUs on individually-owned parcels from impact fees. To qualify as "individually owned," an entity must own five or fewer parcels within the jurisdiction.