Support SB 484 – Create New Housing in the Coastal Zone

Thanks to the California Coastal Act, the California coast belongs to all people who live in and visit California. As an organization dedicated to equitable beach access, Surfrider has long celebrated and defended the rights enshrined in this important law. At the same time, we've seen how finding affordable housing in California’s coastal zone has been increasingly challenging with each passing year. This lack of affordable housing in coastal communities has essentially made living near the coast inaccessible to most Californians. 

Surfrider agrees with our partners in the affordable housing sector that the coastal zone needs a substantial increase in affordable housing. At the same time, as dedicated advocates for California’s coastal environment and the public’s legal rights to access and enjoy the coast, we have remained vigilant against policy proposals that would undermine the Coastal Act, eroding protections for the ocean and coastal environment, and weakening equitable public access, environmental justice, and sea level rise preparedness requirements. That's why we were excited to support SB 484 (Laird)'s innovative approach by meeting with legislators, key committee members, and being part of a coalition that worked to advance this important bill through the state legislature.

With Governor Gavin Newsom signing SB 484 into law, California now has the ability to implement an innovative solution by using an existing tool in the Coastal Act – categorical exclusions – to fast-track 100% affordable, multi-unit housing in already urbanized coastal areas. This smart, targeted approach helps coastal cities that have fallen behind on their affordable housing goals while preserving critical environmental protections and public coastal access.

Over the next decade, SB 484 will create a streamlined path to build the housing we need—without compromising California’s environmental legacy or the Coastal Act’s core values. The insights gained will help shape future coastal policies and improve how we plan for equity, resilience, and access along our coast.

We thank Senator John Laird for his leadership in crafting this forward-thinking legislation and Governor Gavin Newsom for signing this important bill into law.

Read more here: Housing Advocates And Environmentalists Unite To Applaud Governor Newsom’s Signature Of Affordable Housing Bill For Coastal Cities

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