AB 2162: The Fast-Tracked, Affordable, and (Almost) Bureaucracy-Free Supportive Housing Bill
- Odysseas Lamprianidis
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Riddle me this:
I take up all your time. I ask for all your money. It's not a guarantee you'll have me. And if you say one wrong word, I make you start all over again.
What am I?
That's right! I'm the Discretionary Approval process to obtain your building permits.
Luckily, with with new bill AB 2162 in place, you can kiss goodbye to those scary timelines.
Supportive Housing is the future of affordable renting.
I gave you a very thorough breakdown of AB 2162 below, and if you read hard enough, you'll see all the ways in which one can exploit the loopholes of this new bill.
Explained in 30 Seconds:
AB 2162 allows by-right approval for supportive housing projects that meet strict standards, shaving months off the usual entitlement process. We’re talking no hearings, no CEQA, and no drama—just streamlined development.
Ready to fast-track your housing? Scroll on.
1. Affordability Requirements
100% of units (excluding managers’ units) must be for lower-income households.
Units must remain affordable for at least 55 years, enforced through a recorded covenant or regulatory agreement.
Public funding is required to ensure affordability.
2. Supportive Housing Allocation
For projects with 12 or more units:
At least 25% of units or 12 units (whichever is greater) must serve the supportive housing target population.
For projects with fewer than 12 units:
All units (again, minus the manager’s) must be supportive housing.
3. On-Site Supportive Services Space
Projects with ≤ 20 units: Must include at least 90 sq. ft. for supportive services.
Projects with > 20 units: Must dedicate at least 3% of the nonresidential floor area to services (e.g., counseling rooms, offices, community spaces).
4. Supportive Services Plan (Don't Skip This!) Submitted with your project application and must include:
Name(s) of the supportive services provider(s)
Identified funding sources (federal/state grants, contracts, etc.)
Staffing details, including case management ratios
5. Unit Specifications Each unit (excluding manager’s unit) must include:
At least 1 bathroom
A kitchen or cooking facility with:
Stovetop; AND
Sink; AND
Refrigerator...
And no, unfortunately the microwave-and-mini-fridge combo does not classify as a kitchen.
6. Transit-Proximate Parking Exemption
If your site is within ½ mile of a major transit stop:
You cannot be required to provide any parking for supportive housing units.
ADA-accessible parking is still required.
7. Replacement Housing Requirements If demolition is involved:
Units must be replaced 1-for-1, and the new units must be:
Equal or larger in size
Affordable to the same or lower income level
Covered by affordability restrictions of equal or longer duration
8. Expedited Review Timelines
Within 30 days: Local agency must determine if the application is complete.
Final ministerial approval:
Within 60 days if the project has 50 or fewer units
Within 120 days if it has more than 50 units
9. Small Jurisdictions Cap In cities or unincorporated areas with:
Fewer than 200,000 residents, and
Fewer than 1,500 homeless individuals (based on latest PIT count)
→ Projects must be 50 units or less to qualify unless the jurisdiction says otherwise.
Final Thoughts from A Seasons Permit Expeditor
AB 2162 is one of the most efficient tools in the affordable housing toolkit—but only if you hit every mark. From unit specs and supportive services to timelines and funding sources, there’s no room for shortcuts here.
And remember: streamlined does not mean sloppy.
Top 3 Takeaways:
100% affordability, 25%+ supportive housing, and public funding are non-negotiable.
No CEQA, no hearings—just a clean, fast ministerial approval if you follow the rules.
Parking waivers, expedited timelines, and locked-in affordability make this bill a major win for qualified developers.
– Odysseas Lamprianidis
"Fortune Sides With Him Who Dares"
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