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Board adopts housing ordinance updates, limits proposed local density sliding scale in amendment
Summary
The Board adopted updates to Titles 21 and 22 to align county code with state law, ease zoning barriers, and add an "acutely low" affordable category; after debate over infrastructure and neighborhood impacts, supervisors approved an amendment that constrains the proposed local sliding-scale density bonus and retained an acutely low bonus at 150%. The final item passed as amended.
Los Angeles — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive housing ordinance update Tuesday aimed at aligning county zoning with recent state law, removing barriers to affordable housing, and expanding local incentives to build a wider range of affordable units.
Amy Bodek and Connie Chung of the Department of Regional Planning presented the ordinance (Project PRJ2022-000713) and described three tranches of changes: technical corrections required to align code with the general plan; codification of recent state mandates; and local policy changes to promote housing choice. "We are focusing on making sure that our code aligns with or exceeds state law as it relates to known net loss in affordable housing and expanding housing choice," Bodek said, pointing to proposed reductions in minimum unit sizes and adjustments to density-bonus rules.
A prominent component of the proposal would add a new "acutely low" affordability category—an income band adopted by the board and now in state law—and provide substantial density incentives for projects serving that population. The draft ordinance also proposed a sliding scale of local density bonuses above state minimums so that higher affordability levels could receive larger incentives. Staff showed maps indicating where density-bonus and 100% affordable projects have actually been built countywide and discussed infrastructure constraints that complicate siting outside planned housing-element sites.
Several supervisors raised concerns about the effects of very large local bonuses in locations that may lack infrastructure or be incompatible with neighborhood character. Supervisor Kathryn Barger moved an amendment to retain the county's current caps for most categories and to add the new acutely low category at the 150% bonus level; Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell seconded. Barger framed the amendment as protecting local plans and infrastructure while preserving incentives for the very lowest-income units. "Before we consider increasing these allowances, I believe we need to make sure that future growth remains aligned with the investments, service capacity, and planning priorities that we built over the years," Barger said.
Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell supported the amendment while urging continued emphasis on anti-displacement strategies and preserving incentives where they are needed. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Supervisor Janice Hahn expressed support for the broader ordinance but raised questions about environmental review exemptions for ministerial projects and whether increased bonuses would meaningfully affect production in certain districts.
The board first voted on the Barger amendment; it passed 3–2. The item, as amended, was then approved on a subsequent roll call as the Board adopted the housing ordinance update alongside the staff-prepared environmental addendum (Environmental Assessment RPPL2022001920). The final vote on the amended ordinance was recorded as 5–0.
Votes and procedural outcome: Amendment passed 3–2; ordinance as amended approved unanimously (5–0).
