Lakewood, CA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

5, Density Bonuses, was added to implement state density bonus law within Lakewood's zoning code and was most recently amended by Ordinance 2025-3, effective November 11, 2025. Subsection A states the City's purpose and intent: density bonuses exist to incentivize affordable housing production for specified households consistent with Government Code Sections 65915 through 65918, and to further the goals, objectives, and policies of Lakewood's Housing Element. Subsection B is the operative implementation clause. It requires that density bonuses be granted in accordance with those same state Government Code sections, meaning Lakewood does not layer additional local bonus percentages, incentive menus, or parking concessions on top of the state formula; a qualifying project applies the state's sliding-scale bonus (up to 50% or more depending on the affordability mix and unit set-aside under state law) directly.

2, are expressly made eligible for a density bonus under Government Code Section 65915, removing any ambiguity about whether those housing types qualify locally. Because the ordinance incorporates state law by reference rather than restating or narrowing it, a Lakewood density bonus application is processed against the state statute's current concession, incentive, and parking-reduction tables, with the Community Development Department administering the local application and precise plan review that accompanies any multi-family project under Section 9332.