Improving sustainable access to housing in California

Talk by Paavo Monkkonen, 2024-2025 Paris IAS Fellow, Ville de Paris Chair, as part of the "Conversations on development" organized by World Bank Paris.

For decades, California has intervened in local housing policy through planning mandates and direct preemption of local ordinances. Until recently, however, state laws have had imperceptible effects on local planning practice. This talk will describe why laws finally had an impact beginning in 2017, especially laws forcing local governments to permit accessory dwelling units on single family lots. This housing typology now constitutes a quarter of building permits statewide, and its success suggests preemption is more effective than planning mandates.

TEAMS MEETING ID: 220 127 081 045 Passcode: T6jLiJ