Campbell's Move Reshapes Single-Family Neighborhoods
- Campbell adopted an interim ordinance to implement California Senate Bill 1123, allowing ministerial approval of “starter home projects” with up to 10 units. - Campbell’s new city webpage lists at least seven single-family applications under review, including a 10-unit proposal at 1170 Steinway Ave. - The shift follows state housing laws that override older single-family zoning rules. (campbellca.gov)
Campbell has opened a new path for small housing projects on some land long reserved for single-family homes. The City Council adopted an interim ordinance to implement Senate Bill 1123. (campbellca.gov 1) (campbellca.gov 2) The state law lets cities approve “starter home projects” through a ministerial process, which means staff can sign off without a public hearing if an application meets fixed rules. In Campbell, those projects can include up to 10 units and a tentative map for 10 or fewer lots. (campbellca.gov 1) (campbellca.gov 2) Campbell says eligible sites include multifamily parcels, mixed-use parcels, and some single-family parcels that qualify as vacant. The city’s ordinance says the state changes became operative on July 1, 2025, after Senate Bill 1123 and Assembly Bill 130 revised the earlier starter-home law. (campbellca.gov) (campbellca.gov) The practical effect is that neighborhood change can happen lot by lot, through small subdivisions instead of one large apartment proposal. Campbell’s project tracker, updated April 21, 2026, shows 16 starter-home applications citywide. (campbellca.gov) Seven of those pending applications are on single-family sites: 474 Budd Ave, 1573 Walnut Dr, 661 W. Parr Ave, 935 S. San Tomas Aquino Rd, 1170 Steinway Ave, 1995 White Oaks Rd, 127 Budd Ave, and 1124 Holmes Ave. The largest listed single-family proposal has 10 units at 1170 Steinway Ave. (campbellca.gov) Campbell did not create this framework from scratch. The city’s 2023 Housing Element and General Plan update were adopted as it worked to meet state housing requirements for the 2023-2031 cycle. (campbellca.gov) (campbellca.gov) The ordinance says Campbell adopted local standards because state law could otherwise collide with older city rules on lot sizes, land-use definitions, and review procedures. City staff said permanent zoning-code revisions are still being studied. (campbellca.gov) Campbell has already been adjusting other housing rules under Sacramento pressure. In 2023, the city amended its accessory dwelling unit ordinance after the California Department of Housing and Community Development found parts of the local law out of compliance. (campbellca.gov) The city’s own housing pages now warn that published zoning documents may not reflect the latest legislative changes or areas preempted by state law. In Campbell, the old single-family map still matters, but it no longer tells the whole story. (campbellca.gov)
