"Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 648, legislation aimed at making it easier for California's community colleges to build housing for students, faculty, and staff. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Santa Monica) and sponsored by Santa Monica College, Abundant Housing L.A., the Student Homes Coalition, and the Los Angeles Community College District, gives community college districts the same authority the University of California and California State University systems already have to construct housing on land they own or lease."
""This law will address housing insecurity for our community college students and staff and help prevent homelessness," Zbur said in a statement. "California's community college students face some of the highest rates of housing insecurity and homelessness in the state. By eliminating barriers to construction, California is taking another bold step toward tackling our affordable housing crisis.""
"More specifically, AB 648: Expands Building Authority - Community college districts can now construct housing for students, faculty, and staff on property they own or lease, just as they already do for classrooms and other educational facilities. Overrides Local Zoning Barriers - The bill allows housing to be built without being blocked by local zoning laws, similar to existing rules for UC and CSU campuses. This means local zoning that would otherwise prohibit housing (for example, industrial or commercial zoning) won't automatically stop these projects. Defines Eligible Areas for Development - Districts can build housing on property located within a half-mile radius of their main campus or a satellite campus."
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 648 to enable California community college districts to build housing for students, faculty, and staff. The law grants community college districts authority equivalent to the University of California and California State University systems to construct housing on property they own or lease. The law overrides local zoning barriers that would otherwise block projects and specifies eligible development within a half-mile of main or satellite campuses. The law preserves local collaboration requirements, aims to create affordable units and free up surrounding housing stock, and takes effect January 1, 2026.
Read at Streetsblog
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