Inside a Record-Breaking First Half of 2026 for YIMBY LA
June 29, 2026
As local policy defaults to delay, our mid-year review shows a chapter scaling the original research, regional reach, and electoral machinery needed to shift the narrative of LA’s growth.
The first half of 2026 was the most active period in YIMBY LA's history. We published original research, ran 12 events across six neighborhoods, engaged more than 130 races in the June primary, and continued building coalitional and institutional relationships to make this work sustainable. We accomplished all of this against a policy backdrop that remains resistant despite incremental rhetorical, political, and legislative progress.
Kicking Off 2026 With a Plan to Move Faster and Advocate Harder
January opened with our first-ever chapter kickoff call, which recapped a year of building in 2025 where we saw over 14 campaigns launched to support housing projects. That resulted in over 680 letters sent, 4,283 homes supported, and a 93% development approval rate - the people are getting housing! We conducted our first-ever member survey, revealing the primary barriers to in-person advocacy (travel time and work/caregiving responsibilities), and giving us a clear-eyed picture of where to go next.
YIMBY LA's leadership structure evolved in 2026 to reflect the scope of the work, with functional areas now covering content and communications, project advocacy, events, electoral engagement, and social media. This year we've already supported six housing development proposals, helping secure approvals for 3,887 new homes.
Using Our Voice Through Original Research and Position Articles
YIMBY LA published two data-driven report cards [report card 1; report card 2] in the first half of 2026, both produced in partnership with Zenith Economics, making us one of the few LA housing advocacy organizations producing repeatable original research at this cadence.
The inaugural report card established a baseline on permitting, vacancy, and rent trends:
- 8,714 units permitted in 2025
- 5.1% vacancy rate
- Average rent of $2,168
The most recent report provided tangible proof that housing supply is the key to affordability: asking rents in Los Angeles fell to four-year lows as new completions outpaced absorption. That is the causal argument YIMBY LA exists to make, and now we have the receipts.
In collaboration with YIMBY LA member Dave Deeks, we took a clear, evidence-driven position on the Governor's SB 9 suspension in fire zones with the piece, "Fire Survivors Need Options. The SB 9 Ban Takes Them Away."
