Infill Infrastructure Grant Program of 2019: applications: eligibility.

Senator Cabaldon's modifications to California's Infill Infrastructure Grant Program expand eligibility criteria while adjusting affordability requirements and project documentation standards. The amendments redefine qualifying infill projects to include previously developed sites, not just vacant parcels where 75% of the perimeter adjoins urban uses. For rental units, the income threshold for affordable housing increases from 60% to 80% of area median income.

The legislation introduces alternative pathways for meeting affordability requirements through compliance with streamlined approval processes, moving away from the strict 15% affordable unit mandate. For catalytic qualifying infill areas, applicants must now document approval of necessary entitlements and building permits, rather than just demonstrating project readiness. The bill also revises ranking criteria to emphasize proximity and accessibility to transit stations and walkability to essential services, defined as being within one mile of amenities such as grocery stores, parks, medical facilities, and schools.

New provisions establish detailed definitions for adaptive reuse projects, which involve converting non-residential structures into housing units, and expand eligible capital improvements to include nature-based solutions for climate resilience. The amendments maintain separate application tracks for small and large jurisdictions while introducing specific considerations for tribal entities. Local governments must continue demonstrating housing element compliance, though the bill provides temporary density requirement exceptions for certain metropolitan jurisdictions through January 2026.