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

Lynwood Municipal Code article 23 (§§ 25-23-1 through 25-23-8+) implements California Government Code §§ 65915, 65915.5, and 65917 as the city's own density bonus ordinance, incorporating amendments to those state provisions automatically. Section 25-23-1 states the purpose: encouraging affordable, senior, and childcare-serving housing by granting a density increase over the otherwise allowable zoning maximum when an applicant sets aside qualifying affordable units. Section 25-23-2 defines the mechanics, including "maximum residential density" as the greater of the zoning ordinance's cap or the general plan land use element's cap, and "density bonus units" as units exceeding that baseline.

Section 25-23-3(A) sets the core entitlement: upon written request, a housing development qualifies for a 20% density bonus over the maximum residential density if 5% of total units (excluding bonus units) are affordable to very-low-income households, or if 10% are affordable to lower-income households; a senior citizen housing development separately qualifies for a 20% bonus based on the number of senior units provided. Section 25-23-3(C) scales the bonus upward for greater affordability commitments: each additional 1% of very-low-income units above the 5% baseline adds 2.5% more density bonus (up to a 35% cap at 11% very-low units), and each additional 1% of lower-income units above 10% adds 1.5% more bonus, also capped at 35%.

Incentives and concessions available to a qualifying project, defined in § 25-23-2 and detailed in § 25-23-8, are regulatory relief items such as reduced development standards. Area median income for calculating affordability is Los Angeles County's published figure under California Code of Regulations title 25, § 6932.