Urban Infill and Compact Development


Urban infill development seeks to increase the number of available housing units in a city while minimizing the outward expansion of city boundaries.

Taking advantage of the space already within existing city limits prevents urban sprawl, protects open space and greenbelts, and allows for more walkable, bikeable communities. The City of Cotati facilitates infill development in a number of ways by promoting smaller, attached units as well as density bonuses for affordable housing projects.

Learn more about infill development, and how this planning practice can increase connectivity in smaller cities here.

Cotati Housing

The City strongly encourages the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), also known as "granny units." ADUs can be built by converting a garage or unused space within a house, by expanding an existing house, or building a new, freestanding dwelling on a lot that already has a home. In this way, the city can increase its housing supply and increase housing affordability. Most residential properties within Cotati are eligible for addition of an ADU.

Cotati's Cottage Housing Ordinance allows construction of modestly sized single-family detached or attached residences at a higher density than the standard zoning permits, in order to encourage the development of smaller-sized lots and the provision of more housing units. Read more about Cottage Housing here.

For larger housing construction projects, developers may apply for a "density bonus" to increase the number of units in the project beyond that allowed by the property's zoning, in exchange for providing a certain share of the total project units at rents or sales prices affordable to moderate- lower-income households. State law (AB 2345) allows developers up to a 50% density bonus, depending on the number of affordable units provided and level of affordability of those units. Density bonuses are a tool to increase compact infill development, and provide affordable housing.