Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This week we are sending a message to the California State Assembly supporting three bills: SB 9, SB 10 and SB 478. These bills will reform zoning laws and allow for more “middle housing” production.

“Middle housing” – duplexes, fourplexes, townhomes and bungalow courts – have been a beloved part of the Los Angeles housing landscape for decades. These types of homes are affordable by design, visually appealing, and fit well in any residential neighborhood. L.A. wouldn’t be L.A. without these homes.

But exclusionary zoning and land use restrictions have made middle housing an endangered species. Since 2013, 2-9 unit buildings have provided only 11% of L.A.’s new homes. Legalizing middle housing again will make our neighborhoods more affordable, walkable, welcoming, and inclusive.

That’s why we support these three bills in Sacramento:
• Senate Bill 9 legalizes duplexes and lot splits in single-family residential zones.
• Senate Bill 10 streamlines local rezoning to allow “middle housing” production.
• Senate Bill 478 prohibits cities from introducing unreasonably high minimum lot sizes or low floor-area ratios on parcels zoned for 2-10 housing units.

Together, these bills would pare back exclusionary zoning and legalize small-scale housing, particularly in high-opportunity areas where apartment bans currently block lower-income households from accessing housing. SB 9 will create 700,000 new homes that would have been infeasible to build under business as usual – a small but substantial number that will have a sizable impact over time.

Let your legislators know that you support more “middle housing” in your communities!