Bay Area Housing Policy Benchmarker
Compare inclusionary housing requirements, density limits, parking rules, and approval timelines across 15 Bay Area cities. Instantly benchmark your jurisdiction against peer communities.
Last updated: March 30, 2026
Select Cities to Compare (2-4)
| Policy | Campbell | Sunnyvale | Cupertino | Mountain View | Los Gatos | Saratoga |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusionary Housing | ||||||
| Required | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Percentage | 15% | 20% | 18% | 16% | 12% | — |
| Unit Threshold | 10 | 5 | 20 | 15 | 5 | — |
| In-Lieu Fee (per unit) | $125,000 | $150,000 | $160,000 | $140,000 | $170,000 | — |
| Maximum Density | ||||||
| Residential (du/ac) | 50 | 45 | 40 | 48 | 35 | 30 |
| Mixed Use (du/ac) | 65 | 60 | 55 | 65 | 50 | 40 |
| ADU Policy | ||||||
| Max Size (sq ft) | 1200 | 1000 | 1000 | 1100 | 1200 | 1200 |
| Detached Allowed | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| JADU Allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Parking Required (spaces) | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Fee Waiver | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Development Impact Fees (per unit) | ||||||
| Total | $45,000 | $52,000 | $58,000 | $48,000 | $62,000 | $55,000 |
| Parks | $12,000 | $14,000 | $16,000 | $13,000 | $18,000 | $16,000 |
| Traffic | $18,000 | $20,000 | $22,000 | $19,000 | $24,000 | $20,000 |
| Schools | $8,000 | $12,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $12,000 |
| Parking Requirements (spaces/unit) | ||||||
| Studio | 1 | 0.75 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 1BR | 1.5 | 1.25 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 2BR | 2 | 1.75 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 |
| Approval Timeline | ||||||
| Avg Days to Entitlement | 180 | 165 | 210 | 175 | 220 | 240 |
Policy Summary
Among the selected 6 cities: Campbell requires 15% inclusionary housing, which is below the median of 16.2%. Maximum residential density of 50 du/acre is above the peer average of 41.3 du/acre. Total development impact fees of $45,000/unit place it in the middle among compared cities.
About This Tool
Data & Methodology
Data Source: Policy data is curated from individual city municipal codes, zoning ordinances, fee schedules, and published planning documents. Each data point includes its source citation and date last verified.
15 Bay Area Cities: Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Santa Clara, San Jose, Milpitas, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Fremont, Sausalito, Mill Valley, and Emeryville.
6 Policy Categories: Inclusionary Housing, Maximum Density, ADU Policy, Development Impact Fees, Parking Requirements, and Approval Timeline.
How to Use This Tool
Compare Tab: Select 2–4 cities from the list. The comparison table shows how each city's policies differ. Color coding highlights outliers (amber = more restrictive, green = more permissive than peer average).
City Profile Tab: View all policy details for a single city in a clean, printable layout with source citations and verification dates.
Rankings Tab: Rank all 15 cities by a specific metric (e.g., inclusionary percentage, total fees, density). Compare your city against the peer average and median.
Data Quality & Disclaimer
Policy data is current as of the dates shown. Housing and zoning codes change frequently. Always verify with individual jurisdictions for the most current information before making planning or design decisions. This tool is for comparative analysis only and should not be used as a substitute for official municipal code or legal review.
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About the Policy Categories
Inclusionary Housing
Policies requiring new residential development to include units for lower-income households or pay fees into affordable housing trust funds.
Maximum Density
Zoning limits on residential units per acre in the highest-density residential and mixed-use zones, including density bonus adoption status.
ADU Policy
Accessory Dwelling Unit rules: maximum size, whether detached units and JADUs are allowed, parking requirements, and fee waivers.
Development Impact Fees
Per-unit fees for parks, traffic, schools, affordable housing, and other public facilities required for new residential development.
Parking Requirements
Minimum spaces per unit by bedroom count, transit-oriented reductions, EV requirements, and other parking policies.
Approval Timeline
Average days to entitlement, whether ministerial approval paths or SB 35 streamlining is available to reduce entitlement times.
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