Calculating Permitable Density Part 1 of 3 - Density Bonus Law & Units Per Acre

Episode Overview

This episode launches a critical three-part series on how to correctly calculate the maximum permitable density of housing for any given parcel in California. Sibley argues this is among the most misunderstood aspects of California housing development—and that getting it wrong (which happens at least 95% of the time) means leaving significant housing capacity on the table. Part 1 focuses on parcels where density is expressed in units per acre, walking through the full calculation from general plan designation through density bonus law and multifamily ADU provisions.

Host & Guest

Host: Sibley Simon — Founder, Workbench (Integrated Real Estate Development, Santa Cruz, CA)

Guest: Chris Hudon — Director of Development, Workbench (25 years of multifamily development experience in Colorado and Utah)

Why This Guest

Sibley specifically brought Chris on for Part 1 because Chris is an experienced multifamily developer—but not in California. His background in Colorado and Utah, where developers rely on local zoning, site constraints, and informal planning department consultations, makes him the perfect stand-in for what most developers do when entering the California market. Chris's fresh perspective highlights just how different—and counterintuitive—California's density calculation system is compared to the rest of the country.