Culver City is attracting significant real estate development by adopting a series of pro-housing policies that stand in contrast to its larger neighbor, Los Angeles.

The city has aggressively pursued its state-mandated housing goals (RHNA), expanding the share of land zoned for residential use from 50% to 80%.

Key policy changes include the 2022 elimination of parking minimums, a move that reduces construction costs, and the legalization of micro-unit apartments.

The city also recently became the first in California to permit “single-stair” buildings, which allows for more efficient floor plans in mid-size multifamily projects.

These reforms, driven by a pro-housing city council, have created a favorable environment for developers, attracting major players and adding over 4,500 new units to the city’s pipeline.

This approach avoids some of the hurdles seen in L.A., such as the Measure ULA transfer tax, making Culver City a model for municipal housing strategy.