AB 939: Housing development: density bonuses: affordability of for-sale units.
The bill aims to amend the existing density bonus law, which requires cities or counties to provide incentives to developers who propose housing developments. This law requires that for-sale units be sold to or occupied by low-income individuals or families. The bill would allow for an additional option, where for-sale units can be purchased by a nonprofit corporation for extremely low, very low, or lower-income families participating in a below-market interest rate loan program. This would ensure that these families have access to affordable housing options. The bill also imposes a state-mandated local program, requiring local agencies to implement the density bonus law. However, no reimbursement is required by the state for the costs associated with implementing this program.
| Sep. 29, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 790, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 29, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 04, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 67. Noes 6. Page 6685.). |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 65915.4 is added to the Government Code, to read:65915.4.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 65915, an applicant may alternatively agree to ensure, and the city, county, or city and county shall ensure, that a for-sale unit that qualified the applicant for the award of the density bonus is purchased by a nonprofit housing corporation organized pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that receives a welfare exemption under Section 214.15 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for properties to be sold to, and occupied by, extremely low, very low, or lower income families who participate in a below market interest rate loan program that incorporates within their contracts for initial purchase a repurchase option that requires a subsequent purchaser of the property that desires to resell or convey the property to offer the nonprofit corporation the right to repurchase the property prior to selling or conveying that property to any other purchaser pursuant to an equity sharing agreement and affordability restrictions on the sale and conveyance of the property that ensure that the property will be preserved for lower income housing for at least 45 years for owner-occupied housing units and will be sold or resold only to persons or families of extremely low, very low, or lower income, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code.SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.