SCAG’s SB 79 Draft Map Now Available
SCAG published its preliminary draft SB 79 map on June 1, 2026. This map is based on SCAG’s approach and methodology to the transit-oriented development map required by Senate Bill (SB) 79 (Wiener, 2025) published in late May. The map is specific to Los Angeles County at this time. Report any errors to SCAG staff with documentation by emailing sb79@scag.ca.gov by June 12.
SCAG’s Community, Economic, and Human Development Committee will consider this approach and methodology at its June 4 meeting, before the approach and methodology goes to the SCAG Regional Council at its regular meeting on July 2. SCAG will address corrections to the map by the statutory deadline of July 1 and publish the final methodology upon Regional Council action on July 2.
SB 79 directs each metropolitan planning organization (MPO) in California to develop and maintain an official SB 79 “Stops, Zones, and Tiers Map” for its region. The map will provide a consistent, transparent regional dataset to help local jurisdictions, transit agencies, state partners, and other stakeholders understand where SB 79 applies.
This map will identify qualifying transit stops, transit-oriented development zones, and tier classifications based on service characteristics in qualifying urban transit counties. According to state guidance and the language of SB 79, Los Angeles County is currently the only urban transit county in the SCAG region. Orange County will become an urban transit county when the OC Streetcar opens for revenue service. SCAG will update the SB 79 map annually and when a county becomes an urban transit county.
SB 79 aims to accelerate transit-oriented housing production by making qualifying projects an allowed use on sites zoned for residential, mixed-use, or commercial development if the project meets applicable requirements. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) provided guidance, the “SB 79 Advisory Clarifications on Definitions for Metropolitan Planning Organizations,” in March 2026, which SCAG used to inform its approach and methodology for the region’s SB 79 map. SCAG also worked closely with HCD and state MPOs to support early SB 79 implementation planning and to inform HCD guidance on mapping directions, eligibility criteria, and statutory definitions. HCD will also be responsible for enforcing SB 79.