The high cost of housing remains an issue in Fremont, and the city continues to address the shortage of affordable housing. The latest step is the approval of 918 new units for households earning between 20% and 80% of the area median income (up to $95,050 for a single person and $135,750 for a household of four). This is in addition to 560 affordable units that opened in the city in 2025.
Part of the city’s strategy for encouraging the building of affordable housing is speeding up the permit review process. Lucia Hughes, Fremont’s housing manager, shared, “Before 2023, California set no deadline for reviewing permits after a housing project was entitled.”
California state law gives cities up to 60 business days to review permits for projects with 26 or more units. However, even before 2023, Fremont had a 35-day limit. The city also encourages pre-submittal meetings to resolve issues proactively before each permit resubmission, which can cut down on the total number of permit reviews required for a project. Outside agencies such as water and sanitary districts have their own requirements, but the city streamlines the process where possible.
Hughes adds, “the state supports our work with laws that streamline qualifying affordable housing projects.”
The six planned developments will be located across Centerville, Irvington, Warm Springs and Fremont’s downtown, with planned openings from fall 2027 to spring 2028.
More information about the six new developments breaking ground in Fremont is available at city.fremont.gov/upcomingunits.
