Legislative Resources

Expert-reviewed guides, glossary terms, and case studies to help local governments navigate state law and keep municipal codes compliant.

Legislative Guides

California Guides

AB 978: Recycled Materials in Public Works — A Compliance Guide for California Local Agencies

AB 978 makes California's recycled materials mandate for local agency street and highway projects permanent and ties it dynamically to current Caltrans standard…

California Guides

SB 9: Duplex by Right and Urban Lot Splits — A Compliance Guide for California Cities

SB 9 requires California cities to ministerially approve duplexes in single-family zones and to allow residential parcels to be split into two — stripping citie…

California Guides

SB 4: Affordable Housing on Religious and Nonprofit Land — A Compliance Guide for California Cities

SB 4 requires California cities to ministerially approve 100% affordable housing on land owned by religious institutions and nonprofit colleges — regardless of …

California Guides

SB 684: Small Multifamily Ministerial Approval — A Compliance Guide for California Cities

SB 684 is among the least-understood California housing bills of the 2023 session. It requires ministerial approval for up to 10 residential units on infill par…

View all 14 legislative guides →

Municipal Law Glossary

View all 56 glossary terms →

Case Studies

Sheetz v. County of El Dorado: The Supreme Court Closes the Legislative Fee Loophole

In April 2024, a unanimous Supreme Court held that Nollan/Dolan heightened scrutiny applies to impact fees imposed by legislative fee schedules — not just indiv…

The Woodside 'Mountain Lion' Case: When a City Tried to Use CEQA to Block the Builder's Remedy

In early 2022, the Town of Woodside declared itself entirely exempt from the builder's remedy by asserting the whole town was mountain lion habitat protected un…

The Beverly Hills Builder's Remedy Applications: High-Rise Housing in the Flats

In 2022-2023, Beverly Hills — out of compliance with its 6th cycle Housing Element — received builder's remedy applications for projects as tall as 18-20 storie…

Nollan v. California Coastal Commission: The Case That Rewrote the Rules on Permit Conditions

The U.S. Supreme Court's 1987 decision in Nollan v. California Coastal Commission established that the government cannot condition a land use permit on a develo…

View all 7 case studies →