Senate Bill 50 Summary

• Establishes streamlined ministerial approval process for "neighborhood multifamily projects" of up to 4 residential units on eligible parcels that meet local height, setback, and lot coverage requirements as of July 1, 2019, with local agencies having 60 days to identify conflicts or the project is deemed compliant.

• Prohibits local agencies from imposing automobile parking standards exceeding 0.5 spaces per unit on streamlined developments and limits approval validity to 3 years with optional one-year extension if vertical construction has begun and is progressing.

• Creates "equitable communities incentive" program requiring specified cities and counties to grant density waivers, height waivers, and parking requirement waivers to job-rich or transit-rich residential developments meeting affordability criteria, starting January 1, 2023.

• Requires residential developments receiving equitable communities incentives to include affordable housing contributions based on project size, with 15-25% of units affordable to lower-income households depending on unit count, deed-restricted for 45-55 years.

• Delays equitable communities incentive implementation until July 1, 2023 in potentially sensitive communities and January 1, 2026 in identified sensitive communities unless local governments adopt qualifying community plans or residents petition to opt in; allows local governments with certified flexibility plans to opt out.