Effective January 1, 2024, Senate Bill (SB) 4 (Wiener, 2023) allows a housing development on land owned by faith-based institutions and independent institutions of higher education to be processed “by right,” or without local government discretionary reviews, provided certain conditions are met.
The law - codified in Government Code Section 65913.16 - removes zoning restrictions and accelerates approval processes so affordable homes for seniors, low-wage workers, people with disabilities, and low-income families can be built more easily, faster, and at a lower cost.
Please refer to the City's SB 4 Project Checklist to help determine eligibility.
Technical Assistance
Faith-based institutions and independent institutions of higher education exploring SB 4 can access additional support from the following partners:
- LISC Bay Area – Faith and Housing Capacity Building Program: A one-year training program for faith- and community-based organizations focused on property strategy and affordable housing partnerships. Since 2019, the program has served 50+ organizations in the Bay Area, supporting a pipeline of 1,200+ affordable units.
- DCG Strategies: A certified B-Corp real-estate advisory and brokerage firm guiding congregations through mission-rooted discernment, feasibility and execution for housing, leasing, sales and development consulting. Serving Bay Area congregations since 2005.