Aguiar-Curry bill targets restrictive covenants keeping grocery stores out of neighborhoods for decades
(SACRAMENTO, CA) — A bill by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) to tear down a little-known barrier to grocery store access has passed the California Legislature. Assembly Bill 1857 (AB 1857) will give communities a new tool to remove restrictive covenants that can prevent grocery stores from opening at former supermarket sites. The bill heads to Governor Newson’s desk.
“Just because a grocery store closes doesn’t mean a community should have to go without one,” said Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry. “AB 1857 removes an unnecessary roadblock that keeps new grocery stores from coming in. Our communities deserve a fair shot at bringing grocery stores back.”
Nearly three million low-income Californians live in food deserts, where residents lack consistent access to affordable, healthy food. These disparities disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color. AB 1857 establishes a process to remove qualifying restrictions in deeds and land-use agreements that prohibit a property from being used as a grocery store—restrictions that can remain in place for 15 to 50 years after a store closes or relocates.
When a grocery store closes, restrictive covenants can prevent another grocer from using the site—even when the community needs one. Reusing existing grocery infrastructure such as refrigeration, shelving, storage, and parking can lower the cost of entry. Without it, residents may face fewer healthy options and higher prices.
“Food access is a basic part of a healthy, thriving community,” said Aguiar-Curry. “We should not allow outdated contracts to stand in the way of new grocery stores, greater competition and more affordable food in our neighborhoods.”
Bill sponsors had this to say about the bill’s passage out of the California Legislature:
“For too many Californians, the closest grocery store isn't close at all. Restrictive covenants block stores from opening. This isn't just an inconvenience—it's a driver of hunger and high food prices,” said Policy Director Beth Smoker, California Food and Farming Network. “At a moment when hunger is soaring in CA, AB 1857 provides a commonsense tool to tackle one of the hidden causes of food insecurity.”
“Restrictive covenants have led to storefronts sitting empty for decades, forcing entire communities to go without fresh food in their neighborhood. Families drive further and pay more because they have nowhere else to shop. AB 1857 will put a stop to this. We’re proud to support this bill and eager to see it signed by Governor Newsom,” said Legislative Advocate Loyal Terry, Economic Security California Action.
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Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry represents California’s 4th Assembly District, which includes all of Lake, Colusa, Napa, and Yolo Counties, and part of Sonoma County. She serves as the Assembly Majority Leader and Chair of the California Women’s Legislative Caucus.
