California’s 2026 Housing Laws: What You Need to Know
California’s 2025 legislative session brought sweeping housing reforms aimed at accelerating development and reducing barriers to construction. Key measures include CEQA exemptions, denser zoning near transit and expanded authority to remove restrictive covenants that block housing. The laws also introduce enforceable timelines for government review, stronger enforcement and litigation tools and streamlined permitting processes, creating a framework for faster approvals and increased accountability in housing development.
Beyond these headline reforms, additional legislation targets density, adaptive reuse, student and farmworker housing and affordable housing policies. Programs now enhance reporting, clarify housing element requirements and provide incentives for tribal housing and pro-housing policies. Overall, the 2025 laws collectively strengthen California’s ability to meet housing demand, encourage infill and transit-oriented development and improve alignment between local planning, infrastructure and sustainable growth goals.
