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California 20252026

AB 1857

Unlawfully restrictive covenants: grocery stores and supermarkets.

Source: Open States / PluralUpdated 2026-09-12 13:12:55 UTC.

Official record

Measure details

Jurisdiction
California
Session
20252026
Chamber
lower
Classification
bill
Subjects
Unlawfullyrestrictivecovenants, grocerystoresandsupermarkets
Introduced / first action
2026-02-11 00:00:00

Alternate titles

  • The Grocery Store Access Act.
  • Conditions of ownership: grocery stores.

Source-supplied abstracts

Existing law makes void and unenforceable any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in real property that effectively prohibits or restricts certain land uses, including the installation or use of a solar energy system or construction or use of an accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit on certain lots. Existing law authorizes a person who holds or is acquiring an ownership interest of record in property that the person believes is the subject of an unlawfully restrictive covenant, as specified, to record a restrictive covenant modification document. Before recording the document, existing law requires the county recorder to submit the modification document and the original document to the county counsel, who is required to determine whether the original document contains an unlawful restriction. This bill would make void and unenforceable against an interested party any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, lease, or other recorded or unrecorded instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in real property that effectively prohibits or restricts the use of that property as a grocery store or supermarket, as defined, if a grocery store or supermarket either previously operated on the property and has ceased operations or is no longer in actual operation within a commercial project or shopping center and an approved restrictive covenant modification document has been recorded in the public record. The bill would entitle an interested party, as defined, to establish that an existing restrictive covenant is unenforceable by submitting a restrictive covenant modification document to the county recorder, in accordance with certain procedures, to allow the grocery store or supermarket development to proceed. The bill would prohibit a person or entity, beginning on January 1, 2027, from creating or recording any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, lease, or other recorded or unrecorded instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in real property that effectively prohibits or restricts the use of that property as a grocery store or supermarket if a grocery store or supermarket either previously operated on the property and has ceased operations or is no longer in actual operation within a commercial project or shopping center, except as prescribed. By imposing additional duties on county officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings and declarations relating to these provisions. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Source-supplied history

Actions

  1. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

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  2. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.).

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  3. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  4. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).

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  5. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

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  6. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

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  7. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

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  8. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

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  9. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

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  10. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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  11. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.

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  12. Referred to Com. on JUD.

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  13. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

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  14. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 5199.)

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  15. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

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  16. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 14).

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  17. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

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  18. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

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  19. Read second time and amended.

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  20. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14).

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  21. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

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  22. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.

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  23. In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

  24. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

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  25. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.

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  26. Referred to Com. on JUD.

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  27. From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.

  28. Read first time. To print.

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