Overview | Eligibility | Special Bonuses | Concessions and Waivers | Density Bonus Calculation | Past Events | Archived Resources
Overview
What is the Enhanced Density Bonus?
The Enhanced Density Bonus (EDB) is a local City program (distinct from State Density Bonus Law) which grants density bonuses, concessions and waivers and special bonuses to housing development projects, to encourage the development of market-rate and affordable housing and encourage a mix of different housing types accessible to households of varying income levels.
EDB removes regulatory barriers to facilitate the development of diverse housing options to meet community needs and increase availability, affordability and equity, while advancing the City’s objectives for sustainable growth and compliance with State housing mandates. While the EDB Policy itself does not create housing units, it encourages the development of housing which is accessible to people of all income levels, ages and household types.
How Does the EDB Help My Project?
EDB reduces regulatory obstacles and helps expand the supply of affordable housing citywide. If your project is building on-site affordable housing or providing community benefits, the EDB may increase the maximum density allowed for the project and modify certain zoning development standards.
Eligibility
EDB and State Density Bonus Law
Housing projects in Long Beach have two distinct pathways in pursuing the benefits of density bonus: State Density Bonus Law or the City’s local EDB Policy. EDB provides an alternative process to the State density bonus process and incentives for multi-family housing development projects that include affordable units. The use of EDB is voluntary and can be utilized by qualifying projects in lieu of, but not in addition to, the State density bonus laws.
EDB and Inclusionary Housing
Any project of ten (10) or more dwellings must meet the Inclusionary Housing requirements of LBMC Chapter 21.67. The EDB grants benefits to projects which meet and exceed the affordability requirements outlined in the Inclusionary Housing Program (IHP). Applicants must review the Inclusionary Housing Submarket Areas Map to determine their project site's Inclusionary Housing Affordability Requirements, as described in LBMC Section 21.67.050.
The IHP was adopted by City Council on April 1, 2025, requiring developers to include affordable housing in all new residential developments with at least 10 units, and expanded these requirements to both for-sale and rental developments citywide. The updated EDB balances the IHP's existing requirements and encourages developers to pursue affordable housing projects by expanding and streamlining citywide development incentives for mixed-income housing. While the requirements of the IHP are mandatory, the benefits provided to housing projects through density bonus in this EDB are optional.
What Steps Should I Take to Get Started?
- Understand your Project Site Basic Information
- Find out your project’s zoning and General Plan PlaceType by accessing the Zoning and Land Use GIS Map.
- Determine your lot net area as defined in the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) 20.36.145.
- Determine Eligibility
- Review the Enhanced Density Bonus Ordinance in LBMC Chapter 21.68.
- A parcel may be eligible for EDB if residential use(s) are permitted on the property either by the zoning district or by the PlaceType, and if five (5) or more housing units could be built based on the allowable density applicable to the site. Find out if your site qualifies by accessing the Zoning and Land Use GIS Map.
- And selecting the map layer titled “Enhanced Density Bonus Eligibility Area.” Any project with ten (10) or more dwelling units that utilizes EDB must meet the Inclusionary housing requirements of LBMC Chapter 21.67.
- Evaluate Your Options Utilizing EDB
- If your project incorporates one or more affordable units, it may benefit from density bonus and concessions outlined in Table 68-1 of LBMC Chapter 21.68
- If your project incorporates one or more community benefit(s), such as senior housing, being located close to a park or removing a public nuisance, it may benefit from Special Bonus(es) which grant density bonus and concessions outlined in LBMC Section 21.68.080.
- Applicants may request a waiver if a specific zoning development standard would have the effect of physically precluding the number of units proposed (see LBMC Section 21.68.070)
- EDB is a voluntary alternate process to the State Density Bonus. You may find that your project benefits more from using the State Density Bonus.
- Consult with Planning Staff and Submit Your Application
- Once you have confirmed your project site information, determined eligibility, and evaluated your options utilizing EDB (following the steps above), submit your planning permit application. Visit the Entitlement Process webpage for a summary of the permit process. If you would like to speak with a planner directly, schedule an in-person or schedule a virtual meeting. Direct questions regarding density bonus procedures to: DensityBonus@longbeach.gov.
Special Bonuses
What Types of Community Benefits Could Grant Special Bonuses?
EDB provides Special Bonuses for projects which include the following community benefits:
- A project that provides large dwelling units (more than 25% of the project’s total units are two-bedroom units of 970 SF or more, or more than 5% of the project’s total units are three-bedroom units of 1,140 SF or more).
- A project that provides an on-site daycare facility.
- A project within 1,000 feet of a City park.
- A project that proposes, through development of the project, to abate a nuisance as defined in LBMC Chapter 9.37.
- A project that complies with the labor standards of Cal. Gov’t Code §65912.130.
- A project that is a senior citizen housing development or special group residence.
- A project that includes any of the following active ground-floor uses: café or restaurant without a drive-through; commercial - basic retail; commercial - basic personal services; physician’s office or medical clinic; fitness center/health club; or a hotel.
How are Special Bonuses Granted?
A Special Bonus may be granted for a qualifying project that provides one or more of the community benefits described in LBMC 21.68.080, Subsection B of the EDB Policy. Density bonuses and concessions granted as Special Bonuses are cumulative and may be granted independently or in addition to the density bonus and concessions for affordable units (Table 68-1 of the EDB Policy).
Multiple Special Bonuses may be applied to a project. Each Special Bonus may provide up to a maximum of twenty percent (20%) density bonus plus one concession; however, these shall not exceed a cumulative total of one hundred twenty percent (120%) density bonus (inclusive of all density bonus provided by EDB Policy). Additionally, each Special Bonus shall be granted one concession, not to exceed a cumulative total of six (6) concessions (including all concessions provided under the EDB Policy).
Concessions and Waivers
What options do I have if I need to modify a development standard?
Concessions: means a modification or reduction of a zoning development standard or objective design standard that results in identifiable and actual cost reductions to a density bonus development project.
Waivers: means a modification or reduction of a zoning development standard that otherwise physically precludes the construction of the density bonus units in a density bonus development project
Concessions or waivers cannot reduce minimum life safety standards, building standards approved by the California Building Standards Commission, or standards of the Long Beach Building Standards Code.
Concessions
An eligible project shall be granted concessions as described in Table 68-1 of the EDB or as a Special Bonus, except in the following circumstances:
- The concession would not result in identifiable and actual cost reductions to provide for affordable housing costs for the income levels targeted,
- The concession would be contrary to state or federal law,
- The concession would have a specific, adverse impact for which there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact, upon either of the following: health and safety, or a property listed in the California Register of Historical Resources, or a City-designated historic landmark.
The total number of concessions granted to a project using EDB shall not exceed six (6).
Provisions for Height Concessions
EDB allows concessions to be used to grant additional height. EDB includes limitations on the building height of each additional story and total building height. The number of concessions needed for the corresponding number of additional stories is found in LBMC Section 21.68.060.
Waivers
A requested waiver will be granted unless one or more of the following circumstances apply:
- The waiver would be contrary to state or federal law,
- The waiver would have a specific, adverse impact for which there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact upon either of the following: health and safety, or a property listed in the California Register of Historical Resources, or a City-designated historic landmark.
The number of waivers that can be requested for a density bonus project is unlimited.
Density Bonus Calculation
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Requirements and EDB
Any project with ten (10) or more dwelling units that utilizes EDB must meet the inclusionary housing requirements of LBMC Chapter 21.67. Applicants must review the Inclusionary Housing Submarket Areas Map to determine their project site's Inclusionary Housing Affordability Requirements, as described in LBMC Section 21.67.050.
Density Bonus by Affordability Level
EDB establishes an affordable component and the corresponding density bonus and concessions granted based on the affordable component (Table 68-1). Applicants may propose two or more types of affordable components (e.g., very-low and moderate income) using the EDB Policy. In those instances, the density bonus and concessions are granted cumulatively. However, density bonuses granted for affordable units shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%).
Density Bonus Calculator
Applicants are encouraged to use the EDB Calculator to evaluate their options. When you click the link, a spreadsheet with the calculator will open. You may save the file onto your computer for future reference. Please follow the instructions provided in the calculator in the order provided. If you need additional support using this calculator, please email DensityBonus@longbeach.gov.
EDB Background
On October 5, 2021, the City Council adopted the EDB, establishing a voluntary program that provides developers with greater flexibility in local development standards, such as density, if they elect to include affordable units as part of a housing project. The EDB is in alignment with the Housing Infill on Public and Private Land (HIPP) program and the City’s Sixth Cycle Housing Element Update, Action 2.1.3. The EDB was designed to work in tandem with the City's Inclusionary Housing Policy (IHP), also adopted in 2021, which required developers to include affordable housing in new residential developments of 10 or more units in Downtown and Midtown Long Beach.
Since the adoption of the EDB Policy, the State Density Bonus Law, which offers developers an alternative method for achieving a density bonus, has been updated several times, generally providing greater incentives and options for development projects than the City’s Policy (prior to the adoption of the updated EDB). City Council also adopted key updates to the IHP on April 1, 2025, including an expansion of the IHP which is now a requirement citywide.
In June 2025, the City received a Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to analyze the effectiveness of the existing EDB Policy, conduct a comparative review of five other jurisdictions’ density bonus programs and develop a feasibility methodology of the City’s EDB based on current development conditions within the City. The findings of these tasks resulted in a series of proposed improvements to the existing EDB Policy.
On June 9, 2026, City Council adopted an updated EDB) Ordinance. The update revised the City’s density bonus regulations to clarify procedures, expand eligibility, and align local standards with State housing law. The amendments updated and added definitions related to base density, density bonus, waivers, incentives, and concessions; revised procedures for calculating density bonuses; and clarified affordability covenant enforcement. The update also clarified the relationship between the density bonus program and the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, including eligibility of on-site affordable units, the inapplicability of alternative compliance to density bonus qualification, and continued compliance with inclusionary affordability requirements.
Past Events
- City Council Hearing: EDB Ordinance Update – Tuesday, June 9, 2026
- Planning Commission Hearing: EDB Ordinance Update – Thursday, April 16, 2026
Archived Resources
- 2023 EDB Ordinance
- EDB Informational Board
- EDB Informational Flyer
- EDB Major Concepts
- Feb. 2026 Planning for Housing Open House Boards
- Nov. 2025 Planning for Housing Open House Boards
- Oct. 2025 Webinar for Development Community Presentation
- Oct. 2025 Webinar for Development Community Recording
- Sept. 2025 Westside Fest Outreach Summary
- Sept. 2025 Community Workshop Flyer
- 2021 EDB Implementation Guide
- 2021 Transit Priority Areas Map
