In recent years, cities throughout California have not made enough land available for housing or denied housing projects where they are allowed due to community concerns. As a result, the state faces a significant shortage of housing, especially housing that is affordable to people with low incomes. To address this shortage, the state legislature has declared a housing crisis and passed several new laws designed to make it quicker and easier to build new housing.
San Marcos has long been a leader in creating affordable housing, with 10% of all housing in our city set aside as affordable. Even so, all cities, including San Marcos, must follow these laws or risk something called the “Builder’s Remedy,” a provision of state law that would allow developers to build housing in any location and at any height, without city approval.
