Housing development: density bonus: student housing developments.

Education Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Ávila Farías
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on HOUSING.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact amount of additional density bonus developers will receive is not specified in the provided summary.

Student Housing Development Bonus

AB-2480 modifies the requirements for cities and counties to offer density bonuses to developers who build student housing developments, including new rent rules and additional incentives.

What This Bill Does

Revises the rent calculation requirements for lower-income students in student housing developments.
Requires cities and counties to provide an extra density bonus if a developer agrees to include more units that are affordable to low- or moderate-income students, but not exceeding 50% of total units.

Who It Names or Affects

Developers who want to build student housing developments
Cities and counties that decide on housing development projects

Terms To Know

Density Bonus Law: A law allowing cities or counties to give developers extra units if they agree to include affordable housing for lower-income individuals.
Student Housing Development: Housing built specifically for full-time college, graduate, or professional students.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of additional density bonus developers will receive.
It is unclear if all cities and counties will comply with these new requirements.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HOUSING.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-21 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.)
2026-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
(Pending re-refer to Com. on L. GOV.)
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4663.)
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 15).
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2480, as amended, Ávila Farías.
Housing development: density bonus: student housing developments.
Existing law, commonly referred to as the Density Bonus Law, requires a city or county to provide a developer that proposes a housing development, as defined, within the city or county with a density bonus and other incentives or concessions, as specified, if the developer agrees to construct, among other options, 20% of the total units, as defined, for lower income students in a student housing development that meets certain requirements. These requirements include, among other things, that all units in the student housing development be used exclusively for undergraduate, graduate, or professional students enrolled full time at an institution of higher learning, and the rent provided in the applicable units of the development for lower income students is calculated at 30% of 65% of the area median income for a single-room occupancy unit type.
This bill, for the purposes of a student housing development being eligible for a density bonus and other incentives or concessions, would revise and recast the rent requirements for the applicable units of the development for lower income students. The bill would also require a city or county to provide an additional density bonus, as specified, for a student housing development that meets the requirements for being eligible for the above-described density bonus and meets other specified criteria, including that the development provides 24% of the total units to lower income students, and the applicant agrees to include additional rental units affordable to
lower income students or
moderate-income students, as defined, provided that the resulting student housing development would not restrict more than 50% of the total units to moderate-income or lower income students. By imposing new
duties on local governments, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF