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

" It applies to any residential or mixed-use development that adds five or more dwelling units, or that otherwise qualifies under the state law, and the section is explicit that its local summary is "for informational purposes only" and yields to the state statute in any conflict. To use it, an applicant files a letter of intent with the City alongside the first application for the project, disclosing the base density permitted by zoning and the General Plan, the affordability levels and tenure proposed, how many bonus units are requested, and which concessions, incentives, waivers or parking modifications are sought.

" The review authority handling the underlying project also decides the density bonus request, on the same timeline as the base entitlement, so a separate hearing track is not required. Recognized concessions the City can grant without extra documentation touch building height and stories, rear setbacks, lot coverage, open space, floor area, parking, architectural bulk and mass standards, distance between buildings, maximum building length and permit duration; a developer can propose other concessions too if they show an actual cost reduction supporting affordable housing. Waivers can reach any development standard that would otherwise physically block the density-bonus project, and the ordinance places no cap on how many waivers may be granted. 7 before final map approval or building permit issuance.