Why North County Needs More Housing
The case for missing middle housing on the North Coast.
Across North County, rising rents and home prices are pushing out longtime residents, essential workers, and young families. The root cause is simple: we aren't building enough homes.
Cities like Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Vista have some of the most restrictive zoning in the state. Most residential land is zoned exclusively for single-family homes, making it illegal to build the duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings that once defined our neighborhoods.
Missing middle housing fills the gap between single-family homes and large apartment complexes. These are the modest, neighborhood-scale buildings that allow more people to live near jobs, transit, and community resources without changing the character of a street.
California YIMBY's AB 1070, authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward, directs state agencies to study how using residential building codes for small multi-family projects could accelerate the construction of missing middle housing. It's a practical step toward making it easier and cheaper to build the homes our communities need.
Recent state legislation like SB 9 and AB 1070 is opening the door, but local action matters. Attend a city council meeting, join NC YIMBY, and help us build a North County where everyone can afford to live.
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