Governor Signs Historic Housing Law Allowing Taller Buildings Near Inglewood Metro Stations
Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark housing legislation on October 10, 2025, that will dramatically reshape development near transit stations throughout Los Angeles County, including Inglewood’s Metro K Line stops, in an effort to combat California’s severe housing affordability crisis.
Senate Bill 79, dubbed the “Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act,” overrides local zoning limitations to allow developers to build significantly taller apartment buildings within a half-mile of major public transportation stops when the law takes effect July 1, 2026.
For Inglewood communities near Metro K Line stations and other LA Metro stops with heavy rail service, the new law establishes state zoning standards that allow up to nine stories if the project is next to a transit station, up to seven stories within a quarter-mile of the station, or six stories if the building is a quarter to half-mile from the station.
Every housing proposal that uses SB 79 must ensure between 7 and 13 percent are subsidized-affordable homes. The law also prohibits projects from requiring the demolition of rent-stabilized homes of three units or above.
Senator Scott Wiener, who authored the bill, first introduced an earlier version in 2018. This year’s version marks his fourth attempt. “This is the most transformative housing legislation that’s ever been signed into law by any governor,” said Matthew Lewis, spokesperson for California YIMBY.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged Governor Newsom to veto the bill, arguing it would “erode local control, diminish community input on planning and zoning, and disproportionately impact low-resource neighborhoods.”
Governor Newsom also signed three additional housing bills: SB 786 (sets clear rules for housing element litigation), SB 808 (creates judicial process for entitlement disputes), and SB 484 (streamlines coastal development permitting for affordable housing).
California faces an estimated shortage of 3 million housing units, with the median home price reaching $905,680 in 2025.
