Density Bonus Update and Objective Design Standards

As part of the City’s ongoing implementation of the Housing Element, General Plan Update, changes to State Law, and overall objectives to streamline housing review/approval processes and incentivize housing production, the City has adopted a Density Bonus Update and Objective Design Standards, which are now effective.

All new residential and mixed use development must comply with the objective design standards, while such projects may choose to utilize density bonus regulations to increase residential density and receive concessions and waivers for the development project. Learn more about these two items below.

Density Bonuses and Other Bonus Incentives (DOBI) Update

To meet the affordable housing goals outlined in the Housing Element, the City has developed a new DOBI Ordinance which improves upon and replaces the current density bonus code language in the Zoning Code (Chapter 17.580 – Density Bonuses and Other Bonus Incentives). Key objectives include incentivizing the production of additional affordable dwelling units, and incentivizing housing production near key transit infrastructure and along commercial corridors. This Chapter also implements State Law, specifically California Government Code Section 65915 – 65918 - Density Bonuses and Other Incentives.

The new, enhanced DOBI Zoning Code language includes the following new components:

• Tier Density Bonuses
• Community Benefit Density Bonuses
• Additional Concessions

The User Guide below includes example projects demonstrating how these new provisions can be incorporated into a proposed development.

City Council Ordinance – DOBI Update(PDF, 4MB)

Density and Other Bonus Incentives (DOBI) User Guide(PDF, 1MB)

Citywide Residential and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards (ODS)

To comply with various State Laws aimed at addressing the state’s housing crisis and streamlining land use entitlements for housing development projects, including Senate Bill Senate Bill (SB) 35, SB 167, SB 330, and SB 8, the City has developed Citywide Residential and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards (ODS). These standards streamline the review/approval process by providing design standards which are clear, objective, and measurable by applicants and that eliminate subjective judgment and discretion during the review process.

The ODS document is organized into four chapters, separating for multi-family and mixed use development from smaller scale development of single-family, two-family, and three-family buildings. Standards for both categories address Building Location and Orientation, Neighborhood Compatibility and Privacy, Building Design and Architecture. Additional standards are provided for specific architectural styles, to ensure quality execution of the specified style. Projects that are not within the styles identified can propose their own style for review.

• Chapter 1: Purpose, Applicability, and Definitions
• Chapter 2: Multi-Family Residential and Mixed Use (Four or More Unit) Buildings
• Chapter 3: One to Three-unit Buildings
• Chapter 4: Design Standards for Architectural Styles

Adopted Citywide Residential and Mixed Use Objective Design Standards (ODS)(PDF, 6MB)

City Council Ordinance – Zoning Code Amendment(PDF, 2MB)