On April 29, 2025 San Jose’s City Council approved an ordinance rezoning 917 properties, most in Council District 6. Zoning ordinances are the rules that govern what can be built on a property, and this rezoning will result in an increase in the city’s capacity to build more housing- up to 21,000 new homes! Read on to learn more.

Image: SV@Home’s Emily Ann Ramos speaks at San Jose City Council in support of zoning changes on April 29, 2025

On April 29, 2025 San Jose’s City Council approved an ordinance rezoning 917 properties, most in Council District 6. Zoning ordinances are the rules that govern what can be built on a property, and this rezoning will result in an increase in the city’s capacity to build more housing- up to 21,000 new homes! 

This comprehensive package of zoning changes results from a program in the City’s Housing Element, the eight-year plan to meet the housing needs of all San Jose’s residents across all income levels. The rezoning aligns San José’s zoning ordinance with the City’s General Plan land use designations and brings the City into compliance with state law. This is a critical step to ensure that zoning no longer acts as a barrier to producing the housing our community so urgently needs.

We appreciate the dedication and diligence of the Planning Department in completing this complex, multi-year effort. Updating the zoning for over 900 parcels is no small feat, and this work reflects a thoughtful approach to aligning land use regulations with long-term planning goals. 

The first phase of this work was approved by City Council in June 2019, which aligned the existing zoning districts with their respective General Plan designations, including changes to permitting requirements in the Zoning Ordinance across all zoning districts. The second phase was approved by City Council in June 2021 and created six new urban village and mixed-use zoning districts to support areas that are planned for mixed-use development and high-density residential or commercial uses. Rezoning properties to make zoning districts consistent with the General Plan land use designations represents the final phase of work to bring the Zoning District Map into conformance with the General Plan land use map.

By ensuring consistency between zoning and General Plan designations, this item will streamline the development process and unlock opportunities for housing, particularly in key areas designated for mixed-use and residential growth. Importantly, this rezoning will result in a net increase in residential capacity—up to 21,000 units—which not only complies with SB 330 but actively supports the City’s housing goals.

We encourage the Council to continue advancing policies and practices that remove barriers to housing production while promoting equitable, sustainable development throughout San José.