Senate Passes Senator Wiener’s Housing Data Act

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May 28, 2021

SACRAMENTO - Today Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s Housing Data Act, Senate Bill  477, passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 36-0. SB 477 will now head to the Assembly. This legislation is sponsored by California YIMBY and SPUR.

SB 477 strengthens California’s housing data collection so the state and public can better understand the impact of state housing laws and determine the progress made by various cities and counties in meeting regional housing goals. Currently, the state’s data collection on state housing laws is sporadic and not comprehensive.

This bill instructs state agencies to collect data about SB 35 (Wiener, 2017), which established a streamlined, ministerial approval process, not subject to discretionary review, for certain multifamily affordable housing projects proposed in local jurisdictions that have failed to meet their share of the regional housing need. SB 35 has spurred the creation of thousands of affordable housing units, built more cheaply and quickly than ever before. But the state has yet to quantify the full impact of this law.

SB 477 will also improve California’s housing data collection by adding a number of other data reporting requirements, specifically:

  • The location and total number of developments approved, building permits issued, and number of units constructed pursuant to streamlining requirements for permanent supportive housing, low barrier navigation centers, and Project RoomKey. 
  • Specified information relating to mitigation fees, zoning ordinances, and development standards that local governments are required to report on their websites pursuant to AB 1483 (Grayson, Chapter 662, Statutes of 2019).
  • Whether an application for a housing development project was submitted under any of the following: the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU) statute, or both; the density bonus law (and if so, what bonus, concession, or waiver was requested and approved); SB 35 (Wiener, 2017); Project RoomKey; a list of specified housing-related CEQA exemptions; and CEQA.

California is in the midst of a deep housing crisis, which is leading to mass migration out of the state, skyrocketing eviction rates, record levels of homelessness and poverty, and a growing class of low income and middle class super commuters unable to afford housing within several hours of their jobs. Many local governments in California are motivated independently to increase density in their neighborhoods, and others are required by state law to do so. However, due to the lack of adequate statewide standards and burdensome and outdated regulations, some California cities are able to avoid accountability and find loopholes to prevent denser housing from becoming a reality.

“As the saying goes, you can’t fix what you don’t measure,” said Senator Wiener. “That’s why we need to collect data to better understand how state housing laws are working, how cities are implementing these laws, and if cities are actually following the law and issuing housing permits. SB 477 is a common sense good government bill. To tackle our housing crisis, we need the data to help us be consistent and methodical.”