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

Pico Rivera Municipal Code Chapter 18.23 (Affordable Housing Density Bonus) implements California's State Density Bonus Law, Government Code Section 65915 et seq., citywide in every zone that allows residential uses. Under Section 18.23.030, the City must grant a density bonus and any incentives, concessions, waivers, reductions of development standards, or reduced parking ratios that a qualifying project is entitled to under state law; granting a bonus does not itself require a General Plan or zoning map amendment. Section 18.23.060 sets the process: an applicant submits the density bonus request to the Zoning Administrator concurrently with the first approval sought for the housing development, and the Zoning Administrator's completeness review must include the information required by Government Code Section 65915(a).

Applications must include a site plan showing the base project without the bonus, the number and location of affordable and bonus units, the requested incentives or concessions, and, where relevant, the location of any land donation or childcare facility used to qualify. Building permits and occupancy permits for the affordable units must be issued no later than those for the market-rate units. Under Section 18.23.070, an applicant may request a preliminary review before filing, and the City must respond within 90 days with a letter identifying project issues and compliance procedures.

Section 18.23.080 requires the applicant to sign a developer affordable housing agreement, reviewed by the Zoning Administrator and approved by the City Attorney, which must be recorded before final or parcel map approval, or before a building permit issues if no map is involved, and which runs with the land against future owners.