Golden State Today

Governor Newsom today awarded $94 million to 15 California counties to support the development of more than 1,661 new homes through infill development projects. The Governor also issued a new executive order to accelerate and streamline infill development projects to transform undeveloped and underutilized properties statewide into livable and affordable housing for Californians.

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom announced awards totaling nearly $94 million to create infill development that will produce 1,661 new homes in 15 counties throughout California. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order to support efforts to transform undeveloped and underutilized infill sites and buildings into housing. The order aims to help communities build thriving downtown cores and new housing near transportation hubs and job centers, creating more housing options for Californians while further aligning the state’s housing and climate goals.

"Empty lots and vacant buildings in cities throughout our state could be transformed into much-needed housing; Californians literally cannot afford for us to ignore these opportunities," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "Today I’m providing tens of millions of dollars to California communities to begin building these new homes on infill properties. And I’m directing agencies to begin an all-hands-on-deck effort to help create homes on properties that have been sitting empty and unused for far too long. We’re cutting the unnecessary red tape and costs standing in the way of building new affordable homes for Californians."

The Governor’s order helps advance California’s goal to create 2.5 million new homes by 2030. In an effort to make housing more accessible and affordable for all, California continues building more housing of all types across the state.

Governor Newsom’s order directs several state agencies, including the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), among others, to work together addressing key roadblocks in developing infill housing. These agencies will work comprehensively on:

- Lowering costs and increasing flexibility by exploring updates to state building standards codes and permitting processes.

- Creating more resources for local governments by developing mechanisms providing additional resources such as state and federal infrastructure dollars.

- Building more tools by publishing resources through platforms like the state's Site Check website.

- Aligning state housing with climate goals by creating tools assessing environmental benefits of urban cores.

Governor Newsom also announced that California has awarded $94 million in infill infrastructure grants supporting capital improvement projects in counties with populations under 250,000: Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Kings, Imperial, Madera, San Benito, Shasta, Sutter, Tehama, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.

Since taking office, Governor Newsom has invested $40 billion in affordable housing production enacting dozens of CEQA reforms into law. Additionally, he championed creating the Housing Accountability Unit at HCD ensuring cities fulfill their legal responsibilities planning their fair share of housing. This focus on accountability has contributed partly leading a 15-year high in housing starts in California.

Click here to read the full executive order.