Palm Springs, CA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 93.23.17
- Base density bonus
- 20% at 10% low-income units
- Maximum density bonus
- 35% at 20%+ low-income units
- Incentive scaling
- 1-3 incentives at 10/20/30% low-income units
- State law implemented
- Gov. Code §§ 65915-65918
- AMI source
- HCD figures for Riverside County
Summary
Palm Springs Municipal Code § 93.23.17 implements the State Density Bonus Law (Gov. Code §§ 65915-65918). A project with 10% low-income restricted units earns a 20% density bonus, rising 1.5 points per added percentage point of low-income units up to a 35% maximum bonus at 20% or more low-income units.
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish procedures for implementing State Density Bonus requirements, as set forth in California Government Code Sections 65915 to 65918, and to increase the production of affordable housing, consistent with city policies. In order to promote the construction of affordable units, density bonuses, development incentives, waivers, and parking alterations shall be granted pursuant to the provisions of this section. ... A project that includes 10% low income housing shall be granted a density bonus of 20%. For each one percent increase above the required 10% low income units, the density bonus shall be increased by one and one-half percent, up to a maximum density bonus of 35%. ... A project that includes at least 10% low income units shall be granted one incentive. A project that includes at least 20% low income units shall be granted two incentives. A project that includes at least 30% low income units shall be granted three incentives.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4923139; v14 updated 2026-06-24).
Full Breakdown
17 sets Palm Springs' local procedures for the state density bonus program, tying bonus levels directly to the share of restricted affordable units a housing development includes. a, a project reserving at least 10% of its total units for low-income households, for sale or for rent, earns a 20% density bonus. 5% bonus and the schedule tops out at a 35% density bonus once low-income units reach 20% or more of the project. Incentive counts scale separately under Table DB 2: a project with at least 10% low-income units receives one regulatory incentive or concession, 20% low-income units receives two, and 30% low-income units receives three.
5 affordable-housing-cost standards and Government Code § 65915(c) rent-setting standards. 17. Area median income and income-category thresholds are drawn from HCD's published figures for Riverside County, and any fractional affordable unit created by the density-bonus calculation is rounded up to the next whole number.
Violations & Fines
The city may deny a requested concession or incentive only if it makes a written finding, based on objective health-or-safety standards in effect when the application was deemed complete, that the concession would cause a specific adverse impact; the ordinance defines that term as a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact and expressly excludes mere inconsistency with the zoning ordinance or general plan land use designation. Developers who receive a density bonus but fail to deliver or maintain the required low-income restricted units remain subject to the city's standard affordable-housing compliance and code enforcement tied to the project's density-bonus approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a density bonus can a Palm Springs affordable housing project get?
What counts as area median income for Palm Springs density bonus projects?
Can the city deny a density-bonus incentive request?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Springs
California rules heatmap·Compare Palm Springs to another location·View the California zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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Density Bonus Law in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle density bonus law.