California Law Bars Parking Mandates Near Transit

A new California state law, Assembly Bill 2553, will further restrict local governments’ power to require parking spaces at new developments near transit stops, reports John Donegan in Long Beach Post.

“Kurt Canfield, an organizer with Car-Lite Long Beach, explained that state law previously defined a major transit area as any intersection of at least two bus routes at a frequency of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon commute periods.” The new law, which takes effect in January, extends the timeframe to 20 minutes.

Canfield says the change could have a major impact on affordable housing by lowering the cost of construction and making projects possible on smaller lots. 

Parking reform that includes reducing or eliminating minimum parking requirements has been touted as a powerful tool for boosting the housing supply and bringing down housing costs. Donegan notes that “Most developers still include parking, but at an amount driven by market demand instead of a government standard.”