City Achieves Housing Milestone: Over 5,000 New Homes Approved

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: City officials and housing advocates join Mayor Rex Richardson at a Tuesday, Dec. 16 press conference to celebrate an important City milestone in expanding housing supply, with over 5,000 entitlements for new homes over the last three years.

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach has marked an important milestone in its continued efforts to expand housing supply, celebrating entitlements for over 5,000 new homes over the last three years. These entitlements, or City approvals to build housing, comprise a healthy mix of market-rate and affordable homes, including more options for low- and middle-income families, veterans and older adults.

"These more than 5,000 entitled homes represent a significant investment in Long Beach, strengthening our tax base, supporting local businesses, funding City services, and creating jobs," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "We're grateful to the community for continuing to support housing in every part of the city as we expand housing options for residents at all income levels and address affordability."

From Jan. 1, 2023, through Nov. 30, 2025, the City approved entitlements for 5,210 units of housing-with 1,117 of those being affordable units-representing an annual average of over 1,737 new units. By comparison, the number of housing units approved over the previous three years (2020-2022) totaled 2,111, representing an annual average of 704. This translates to a 147% increase in entitlements between the three-year periods, a number that will rise even higher after the December 2025 total is added.

Entitlements represent just one facet of the City's success in expanding housing. Housing starts, or the number of permits issued to start construction, have steadily risen over the past several years, with 703 in 2021, 998 in 2022, 1,011 in 2023 and 1,704 in 2024. The City expects another strong year when the 2025 annual count is finalized in early 2026.

Additionally, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have been a particularly important way of expanding housing supply. Long Beach has continued to be a statewide leader in the production of ADUs over the last few years, with the number of ADU building permits, or permission to start construction, also rising steadily, with 208 in 2021, 509 in 2022, 671 in 2023 and 747 in 2024, a City record.

"Ten years ago, we were producing between 70 and 300 units of housing a year, and now we have 5,000 approved in the last three years, and more than 1,000 units produced every year for the last three years," said Christopher Koontz, Director of the Community Development Department. "Every single one of those units matters. It's life changing for families."

Looking ahead, Long Beach will start 2026 with three affordable housing developments under construction:

• The 101, located at 101 E. Pacific Coast Highway, will offer 51 apartments for people who have experienced homelessness.
• 300 Alamitos, north of Alamitos Beach, will have 81 apartments for older adults who have lower incomes or who have experienced homelessness.
• Habitat for Humanity Townhomes, on the 5500 block of Orange Avenue in North Long Beach, will give low-income families a path toward ownership of three- or four-bedroom homes.

The City and its development partners are also expected to break ground on five affordable housing projects in 2026, including:

• The Armory Arts Collective, the careful evolution of the historic Armory complex at 854 E. 7th St., which will provide 63 apartments for older adults.
• AMCAL Linden Apartments, on the 900 block of Linden Avenue just north of downtown, which will provide 99 affordable homes for families.
• 1401 Long Beach Blvd., which will have 151 apartments for low-income families.
• Fountain Street Apartments, consisting of 72 affordable rental units at 4151 E. Fountain St. near Traffic Circle, including some units specifically for individuals with disabilities.
• Habitat for Humanity Townhomes, seven units at 15th Street and Palmer Court, which will give families another opportunity for home ownership.

For more information about future development planning in Long Beach, visit the Planning Bureau's webpage or call 562.570.6194. For more information about upcoming affordable housing developments, visit the Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau webpage or call 562.570.6949.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Community Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/lbcd and follow @longbeachbuilds on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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