On October 11, 2025, California Governor Newsom signed SB79 into law, allowing eight counties including Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco to build more mid-rise housing near major transportation hubs to alleviate the housing crisis. The bill has been controversial since its introduction, with opponents expressing concerns about potential environmental degradation in the affected areas.
The new law categorizes train stations and major bus stops, permitting the construction of tall buildings near these transportation hubs. The standards for building height near primary stations (such as subway, BART, and Caltrain) include a maximum of 9 stories, 7 stories within a 1/4 mile, and 6 stories within 1/4 to 1/2 mile; while secondary stations (city light rail and rapidly urbanized bus routes) within the same distances would have one story less.
Governor Newsom, while signing the “Housing Development: Transit-Oriented Development” bill, stated in a letter to the State Senate that the new law provides strong protections for housing affordability, labor rights, and preventing residents from being forced to relocate. It also gives local governments the flexibility to implement alternative plans as long as they maintain equivalent housing capacity, and ensures that new housing construction in areas prone to wildfires is in sustainable and safe locations.
Newsom highlighted that California has invested billions in transportation but has not built the housing density needed to fully leverage these transport systems’ potential. SB79 aims to concentrate more housing near stations to increase ridership, ultimately reshaping California’s transportation landscape.
State Senator Scott Wiener, one of the bill’s sponsors, described SB79 as a milestone in addressing the root causes of California’s housing affordability crisis – severe housing shortages and limited coverage of public transport. He believes the bill relaxes decades of excessive land use restrictions that have driven housing costs to exorbitant levels, forcing millions to live far from work and transportation hubs and endure heavy commuting stress or even leave California.
Various California groups like YIMBY (Yes, In My Backyard), Streets For All, and Abundant Housing LA welcomed the new law, considering it a key tool in solving the housing crisis. They anticipate increased public transit ridership and reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Despite the bill’s passage after numerous revisions, opponents argue that it will bring about multiple issues, including devaluation of neighboring properties and public safety concerns. Some residents are worried that developers will have free rein to construct housing around transportation hubs.
Governor candidate Steve Hilton expressed concerns on X platform that the bill could empower developers to build seven-story apartment buildings next to single-family homes by simply adding a bus stop nearby. The “Recall Newsom” movement’s main supporter Mike Netter urged Californians to oppose the law if they do not wish to live near potentially crime-ridden high-rise buildings.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in a letter to Newsom last month, urged the governor to veto SB79, stressing the need to combine housing development near transportation hubs with employment, education, and essential amenities, without undermining local control or weakening municipalities’ voices in community planning and zoning decisions.
SB79 will be implemented in eight highly urbanized counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties.