California Bill Seeks to Balance Preservation and Housing Demand

A bill awaiting the governor’s signature would require cities to report new historic preservation ordinances and assess how they impact local housing supplies.

1 minute read

September 8, 2024, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Historic Victorian homes in Huntington Beach, California with tall palm trees on a sunny day.

SvetlanaSF / Adobe Stock

A new California state bill passed by the legislature, AB 2580, would require jurisdictions to monitor and report on the impact of historic preservation ordinances on their housing supply in an effort to “align local efforts to preserve historic structures with the need to build more homes.”

The bill, sponsored by advocacy group California YIMBY, is designed to prevent ordinances that stifle much-needed housing development in the name of preservation. The new bill mandates that local governments report newly designated historic districts and buildings to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

According to California YIMBY, anti-development groups sometimes abuse historic preservation ordinances because “there are currently no objective standards for what qualifies as a ‘historic’ property; in addition, any individual can petition to designate any property as historic – which invites abuse and bad-faith designations by actors whose goal is to block the construction of new homes.”

A fact sheet about the bill adds, “It would further enhance accountability by adding an assessment of historic preservation policies and practices as potential constraints on housing to HCD’s review of local Housing Elements.”

Friday, August 30, 2024 in California YIMBY

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Downtown Los Angeles skyline viewed from a distance with freeway and trees in foreground.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods

A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

6 hours ago - USC Dornsife

Aerial view of Claifornia aqueduct with green orchard on one side.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy

California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

7 hours ago - Turlock Journal

Close-up of older woman's hands resting on white modern heating radiator mounted on wall indoors.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program

The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.

April 3 - The New York Times