'Homes for All of Us' Initiative Eases San Diego Building Restrictions

The ordinance, which allows lot splitting and eases permitting for accessory dwelling units, is an effort to boost housing affordability.

2 minute read

March 16, 2022, 11:57 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


gaslamp Quarter

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

A city initiative dubbed "Homes for All of Us" takes aim at San Diego's housing crisis through the increasingly popular mechanism of upzoning. According to an article by Richard Allyn,

The reforms in the first part of the ordinance, which was approved by the City Council on Feb. 8, include allowing the split of a single-family lot into two lots, easing the parameters for granny flats and other accessory dwelling units, streamlining the process for building affordable and middle-income homes on city-owned property and encouraging affordable housing in neighborhoods with little to no such housing.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called the initiative an important step toward boosting housing construction in the city. "Signing this ordinance paves the way for the city and home builders to work together to create more homes that San Diegans can actually afford, as well as keep our homelessness crisis from getting worse."

"The Housing Action Package gives us more tools to deliver more housing to more San Diegans. Breaking down silos by opening city-owned properties and employment centers to new housing will help us scale up development, resulting in more affordable and sustainable housing in more communities," said City Councilmember Joe LaCava. 

"Other reforms in the package include an Employee Housing Incentive Program, a Housing Accessibility Program and incentives for multifamily housing developments to build homes with three or more bedrooms to ensure that families of all sizes have opportunities for housing."

Monday, March 14, 2022 in CBS 8 San Diego

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight