Los Angeles has imposed an additional tax on luxury home sales to generate millions for housing efforts in the city. Shelterforce checks in on where the money has gone, and what’s to come.

Los Angeles's Measure ULA, a real estate transfer tax on properties over $5.15 million passed in 2022, has funded 800 affordable housing units and provided rental assistance to over 4,000 households. While revenue fell short of initial projections due to market conditions and legal challenges, the tax generated $40 million in November 2024 alone - its highest monthly total to date.
The city is now expanding the program's scope to include social housing initiatives like community land trusts, guaranteed income support for seniors, and a right-to-counsel program for tenants facing eviction. These expansions come as legal challenges to the measure appear to be resolving and market conditions improve.
"The big millionaire and billionaire interests continue to complain about ULA, but meanwhile, it's doing exactly what it's intended to do," says Joe Donlin of United to House LA. The program is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs while addressing housing affordability through multiple interventions.
With recent zoning reforms encouraging development and monthly revenues reaching new highs, officials expect the program's impact to grow in 2025. The first residents will move into ULA-funded units this year.
FULL STORY: What has Measure ULA Done so Far?

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

‘Architectural Epidemiology:’ Centering Public Health in Urban Design
A new book asks, what if cities were designed around health equity?

Study: London Low-Traffic Neighborhoods See 35% Drop in Road Injuries
London’s effort to reduce speeds and limit vehicles in parts of the city are contributing to improved road safety.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont