California’s 2026 Housing Laws: Practical Implications for Developers, Investors, and Brokers

California’s housing approval playbook has changed materially.  A sweeping set of new laws now in effect in 2026 accelerate approvals, tighten enforcement, limit local discretion, and reshape how and where housing can be built across the state. This summary highlights notable new housing laws and explains how they affect site selection, underwriting, entitlement timelines, litigation risk, and exit certainty for developers and investors.