Increasing the floor-to-area (FAR) ratio of a project and the number of allowable dwelling units per acre, particularly near transit corridors and job centers, reduces travel distances and promotes non-Single Occupancy Vehicle travel.
Increasing residential density places residences closer to destinations, which results in shorter and fewer Single Occupancy Vehicle trips. Further VMT reductions can occur with the increase of active transportation infrastructure.
For more details, see CALTRANS VMT Reduction Program, Land use – residential (density and affordability), pg. 17-21 and CAPCOA, T-1. Increase Residential Density, pg. 70-72 that shows VMT reductions in percentages and per household (assuming typical VMT), for various densities.
Increasing residential density can raise equity concerns such as displacement, gentrification, and uneven distribution of benefits—particularly when low-income or historically marginalized communities bear the brunt of change while wealthier areas resist zoning reforms. Ensure that zoning reforms and increased density projects are distributed across communities and that increased development is accompanied by increased investment in infrastructure and public facilities such as schools. Anti-displacement programs and tenant protection programs can also help to mitigate gentrification.
While increasing residential density can increase development costs associated with more complex projects, higher densities can improve land efficiency and development feasibility by allowing more housing units on a given site. Municipalities may incur staff and planning costs associated with zoning amendments, General Plan updates, development review, infrastructure coordination, and Housing Element implementation. State and federal resources can help offset planning and housing-production costs. Potential funding sources include California Department of Housing and Community Development programs, Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grants where available, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and multifamily housing financing, and federal Community Development Block Grant funds.
Stanislaus County – Residential Density and Housing Development
Stanislaus County’s 2023–2031 Housing Element provides a direct local example of how increased residential density is being used to accommodate housing needs. The County’s housing policies support a range of residential densities and housing types, including moderate-density townhomes and higher-density apartments, condominiums, transit-oriented development, mixed-use development, and accessory dwelling units. The Housing Element also identifies locations where housing could become denser than it is today, particularly where sites have access to transit, essential services, and existing infrastructure.
City of Modesto – Infill Development and Higher-Density Housing
Modesto’s Housing Element specifically identifies infill development and increased residential density as opportunities to accommodate additional housing within the existing developed area. As part of its Housing Element implementation, the City of Modesto identified key commercial corridors, including McHenry Avenue, for rezoning to new mixed-use districts. The zoning changes allow multifamily residential development along the corridor, including underutilized commercial properties. This provides a local example of increasing allowable residential density within an established urban area near existing businesses, services, infrastructure, and transportation connections.
