California lawmakers pass ‘YIGBY’ bill to let churches build housing

In a significant move to address California's housing crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Affordable Housing on Faith and Higher Education Lands Act, commonly known as the "YIGBY" (Yes in God's Backyard) bill, into law on October 11, 2023. This legislation empowers religious institutions and nonprofit colleges to develop affordable housing on their properties, such as parking lots and underutilized land, by streamlining the permitting process and overriding local zoning restrictions.

Authored by State Senator Scott Wiener, the YIGBY bill aims to unlock approximately 170,000 acres of land owned by faith-based organizations and nonprofit colleges across California for potential affordable housing development. This initiative is part of a broader movement encouraging faith communities to utilize their resources to combat housing shortages.

The law facilitates "by-right" approval for qualifying projects, provided they comply with existing environmental regulations and objective building standards. Notably, it exempts these projects from certain California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviews and prohibits local governments from imposing parking requirements on developments located within a half-mile of major transit stops or within one block of a car share vehicle.

To ensure fair labor practices, the legislation mandates that projects with at least 10 units pay prevailing wages to workers. For developments comprising 50 or more units, contractors are required to employ apprentices and provide healthcare benefits to construction workers and their dependents.

The enactment of the YIGBY bill represents a collaborative effort between policymakers and community organizations to address the state's housing affordability challenges. By enabling religious and educational institutions to contribute to affordable housing solutions, California takes a significant step toward alleviating its housing crisis.

source" en.wikipedia.org