- What California’s “Builder’s Remedy” (Housing Accountability Act – HAA) does:
If a city or county hasn’t adopted a housing plan that meets the state’s targets, the law forces it to approve new housing projects that include enough affordable units—either at least 20 % low‑income or all units at moderate income. The developer files a special pre‑application that locks in the local rules at that moment, and the city can only reject the project for very limited reasons (like safety or major environmental issues). The usual environmental review still applies. - Key points to keep in mind:
- The trigger is “non‑compliance” with a state‑mandated housing plan.
- Developers must provide a set share of affordable housing.
- A pre‑application filing secures the right to bypass ordinary zoning rules.
- Local officials can still enforce objective standards that don’t make the project impossible, and they must still conduct environmental reviews.
- What a similar law might look like in St. Louis:
State level: Missouri would need to pass a law requiring every city or county to adopt a housing‑needs plan that meets statewide targets. If a jurisdiction fails, developers could file a pre‑application that locks in current local rules and then move ahead with a project that includes the required affordable units. The city could only block the project for safety, health, or serious environmental concerns. City level: St. Louis could adopt its own ordinance that mirrors the state approach—setting local housing targets, defining the affordable‑unit threshold, and allowing a pre‑application process that limits the city’s ability to reject projects based purely on zoning. The city would still retain the power to enforce reasonable design standards and conduct environmental reviews. - Why it matters for St. Louis:
- It would give developers a clear path to build more housing when the city isn’t meeting its own housing goals.
- It could speed up the delivery of affordable units, helping address the city’s housing shortage.
- It would limit the city’s ability to use zoning as a barrier, which could be politically contentious.
- The city would still protect public health, safety, and the environment, keeping essential safeguards in place.
- Potential challenges:
- Getting state lawmakers to agree on statewide housing targets and the “non‑compliance” trigger.
- Overcoming local resistance to losing some zoning control.
- Defining what counts as “low‑income” or “moderate‑income” in the Missouri context.
- Setting up the administrative process for the pre‑application filing and enforcement.
In short, the California Builder’s Remedy forces jurisdictions that fall short of housing goals to approve projects with a set amount of affordable housing, bypassing normal zoning obstacles. Replicating it in St. Louis would require new state or city legislation that sets housing targets, defines the affordable‑unit share, creates a pre‑application filing to lock in local rules, and limits the reasons a city can reject a qualifying project—all while preserving safety and environmental protections. This could accelerate affordable housing development, but it would also need careful political and legal work to balance local control with the goal of expanding housing options.