Density Bonus Program

The County will be amending its Density Bonus rules to comply with State requirements as soon as possible.

Sonoma County Zoning regulations (Sonoma County Code Chapter 26) have not yet been amended to incorporate recent amendments to state Density Bonus Law (Government Code section 65915). Specifically, Sonoma County Code Sections 26-89-050.C and 26-89-050.D do not comply with recently enacted state requirements summarized below.

The Draft Sonoma County Housing Element includes a program committing the County to amend the County Code to ensure compliance with the Density Bonus Law and other provisions of state housing law (Program 15 of the Draft Housing Element).

Until the County Code is amended to incorporate the below requirements and at all other times, the County of Sonoma will continue to comply with the Density Bonus Law current and amended.

Anticipated updates will include but are not limited to:

1. Provisions for lower-income student housing to qualify for a density bonus.
   
   
2. Additional density bonuses for developments that are 100% affordable.
   
   
3. Update of density bonus calculations and number of incentives to be consistent with state requirements.

Density Bonus Letter to California Housing and Community Development (pdf)