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

Chapter 13.26, Density Bonus Provisions, consists of a single purposes section, 13.26.010, tying Santee's incentive program directly to the state density bonus statute rather than writing its own percentage schedule: the City implements the housing element and California Government Code Sections 65915 through 65918 and, under those general regulations, offers incentives for housing affordable to lower income, moderate income and senior households. The clearest working example of that authority sits in the mobile home park overlay district: Section 13.22.030(C)(9) lets the City consider increasing a project's allowable density by granting a bonus to the site's existing density category, allowing a change in density range under the General Plan, or both, depending on the quality, size, nature and scope of the project, and states that bonus 'shall be up to 25%, as provided for in Chapter 13.26.' A mobile home park application seeking that bonus must also secure a conditional use permit under Section 13.06.030 and a zoning ordinance amendment under Section 13.04.060, and the same overlay district lets the City waive part of a project's application and development fees, or offer redevelopment housing assistance money, as a further incentive for qualifying low and moderate income developments.

Because Chapter 13.26 does not restate the state formula's own income-tier percentages, Santee's density bonus program functions as a local adoption vehicle for the state law rather than an independent local schedule, and Development Services, the department that reviews the City's planning and zoning applications, processes bonus requests together with the underlying project application.