SECTIONS 65580-65589.8 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 65580-65589.8

65580. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a) The availability of housing is of vital statewide importance,
and the early attainment of decent housing and a suitable living
environment for every Californian, including farmworkers, is a
priority of the highest order.
(b) The early attainment of this goal requires the cooperative
participation of government and the private sector in an effort to
expand housing opportunities and accommodate the housing needs of
Californians of all economic levels.
(c) The provision of housing affordable to low- and
moderate-income households requires the cooperation of all levels of
government.
(d) Local and state governments have a responsibility to use the
powers vested in them to facilitate the improvement and development
of housing to make adequate provision for the housing needs of all
economic segments of the community.
(e) The Legislature recognizes that in carrying out this
responsibility, each local government also has the responsibility to
consider economic, environmental, and fiscal factors and community
goals set forth in the general plan and to cooperate with other local
governments and the state in addressing regional housing needs.

65581. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
article:
(a) To assure that counties and cities recognize their
responsibilities in contributing to the attainment of the state
housing goal.
(b) To assure that counties and cities will prepare and implement
housing elements which, along with federal and state programs, will
move toward attainment of the state housing goal.
(c) To recognize that each locality is best capable of determining
what efforts are required by it to contribute to the attainment of
the state housing goal, provided such a determination is compatible
with the state housing goal and regional housing needs.
(d) To ensure that each local government cooperates with other
local governments in order to address regional housing needs.

65582. As used in this article, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Community," "locality," "local government," or "jurisdiction"
means a city, city and county, or county.
(b) "Council of governments" means a single or multicounty council
created by a joint powers agreement pursuant to Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 6500) of Division 1 of Title 1.
(c) "Department" means the Department of Housing and Community
Development.
(d) "Emergency shelter" has the same meaning as defined in
subdivision (e) of Section 50801 of the Health and Safety Code.
(e) "Housing element" or "element" means the housing element of
the community's general plan, as required pursuant to this article
and subdivision (c) of Section 65302.
(f) "Supportive housing" has the same meaning as defined in
subdivision (b) of Section 50675.14 of the Health and Safety Code.
(g) "Transitional housing" has the same meaning as defined in
subdivision (h) of Section 50675.2 of the Health and Safety Code.

65582.1. The Legislature finds and declares that it has provided
reforms and incentives to facilitate and expedite the construction of
affordable housing. Those reforms and incentives can be found in the
following provisions:
(a) Housing element law (Article 10.6 (commencing with Section
65580) of Chapter 3).
(b) Extension of statute of limitations in actions challenging the
housing element and brought in support of affordable housing
(subdivision (d) of Section 65009).
(c) Restrictions on disapproval of housing developments (Section
65589.5).
(d) Priority for affordable housing in the allocation of water and
sewer hookups (Section 65589.7).
(e) Least cost zoning law (Section 65913.1).
(f) Density bonus law (Section 65915).
(g) Second dwelling units (Sections 65852.150 and 65852.2).
(h) By-right housing, in which certain multifamily housing are
designated a permitted use (Section 65589.4).
(i) No-net-loss-in zoning density law limiting downzonings and
density reductions (Section 65863).
(j) Requiring persons who sue to halt affordable housing to pay
attorney fees (Section 65914) or post a bond (Section 529.2 of the
Code of Civil Procedure).
(k) Reduced time for action on affordable housing applications
under the approval of development permits process (Article 5
(commencing with Section 65950) of Chapter 4.5).
(l) Limiting moratoriums on multifamily housing (Section 65858).
(m) Prohibiting discrimination against affordable housing (Section
65008).
(n) California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8
(commencing with Section 12900) of Division 3).
(o) Community redevelopment law (Part 1 (commencing with Section
33000) of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code, and in
particular Sections 33334.2 and 33413).

65583. The housing element shall consist of an identification and
analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of
goals, policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and
scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development
of housing. The housing element shall identify adequate sites for
housing, including rental housing, factory-built housing,
mobilehomes, and emergency shelters, and shall make adequate
provision for the existing and projected needs of all economic
segments of the community. The element shall contain all of the
following:
(a) An assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources
and constraints relevant to the meeting of these needs. The
assessment and inventory shall include all of the following:
(1) An analysis of population and employment trends and
documentation of projections and a quantification of the locality's
existing and projected housing needs for all income levels, including
extremely low income households, as defined in subdivision (b) of
Section 50105 and Section 50106 of the Health and Safety Code. These
existing and projected needs shall include the locality's share of
the regional housing need in accordance with Section 65584. Local
agencies shall calculate the subset of very low income households
allotted under Section 65584 that qualify as extremely low income
households. The local agency may either use available census data to
calculate the percentage of very low income households that qualify
as extremely low income households or presume that 50 percent of the
very low income households qualify as extremely low income
households. The number of extremely low income households and very
low income households shall equal the jurisdiction's allocation of
very low income households pursuant to Section 65584.
(2) An analysis and documentation of household characteristics,
including level of payment compared to ability to pay, housing
characteristics, including overcrowding, and housing stock condition.
(3) An inventory of land suitable for residential development,
including vacant sites and sites having potential for redevelopment,
and an analysis of the relationship of zoning and public facilities
and services to these sites.
(4) (A) The identification of a zone or zones where emergency
shelters are allowed as a permitted use without a conditional use or
other discretionary permit. The identified zone or zones shall
include sufficient capacity to accommodate the need for emergency
shelter identified in paragraph (7), except that each local
government shall identify a zone or zones that can accommodate at
least one year-round emergency shelter. If the local government
cannot identify a zone or zones with sufficient capacity, the local
government shall include a program to amend its zoning ordinance to
meet the requirements of this paragraph within one year of the
adoption of the housing element. The local government may identify
additional zones where emergency shelters are permitted with a
conditional use permit. The local government shall also demonstrate
that existing or proposed permit processing, development, and
management standards are objective and encourage and facilitate the
development of, or conversion to, emergency shelters. Emergency
shelters may only be subject to those development and management
standards that apply to residential or commercial development within
the same zone except that a local government may apply written,
objective standards that include all of the following:
(i) The maximum number of beds or persons permitted to be served
nightly by the facility.
(ii) Off-street parking based upon demonstrated need, provided
that the standards do not require more parking for emergency shelters
than for other residential or commercial uses within the same zone.
(iii) The size and location of exterior and interior onsite
waiting and client intake areas.
(iv) The provision of onsite management.
(v) The proximity to other emergency shelters, provided that
emergency shelters are not required to be more than 300 feet apart.
(vi) The length of stay.
(vii) Lighting.
(viii) Security during hours that the emergency shelter is in
operation.
(B) The permit processing, development, and management standards
applied under this paragraph shall not be deemed to be discretionary
acts within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act
(Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources
Code).
(C) A local government that can demonstrate to the satisfaction of
the department the existence of one or more emergency shelters
either within its jurisdiction or pursuant to a multijurisdictional
agreement that can accommodate that jurisdiction's need for emergency
shelter identified in paragraph (7) may comply with the zoning
requirements of subparagraph (A) by identifying a zone or zones where
new emergency shelters are allowed with a conditional use permit.
(D) A local government with an existing ordinance or ordinances
that comply with this paragraph shall not be required to take
additional action to identify zones for emergency shelters. The
housing element must only describe how existing ordinances, policies,
and standards are consistent with the requirements of this
paragraph.
(5) An analysis of potential and actual governmental constraints
upon the maintenance, improvement, or development of housing for all
income levels, including the types of housing identified in paragraph
(1) of subdivision (c), and for persons with disabilities as
identified in the analysis pursuant to paragraph (7), including land
use controls, building codes and their enforcement, site
improvements, fees and other exactions required of developers, and
local processing and permit procedures. The analysis shall also
demonstrate local efforts to remove governmental constraints that
hinder the locality from meeting its share of the regional housing
need in accordance with Section 65584 and from meeting the need for
housing for persons with disabilities, supportive housing,
transitional housing, and emergency shelters identified pursuant to
paragraph (7). Transitional housing and supportive housing shall be
considered a residential use of property, and shall be subject only
to those restrictions that apply to other residential dwellings of
the same type in the same zone.
(6) An analysis of potential and actual nongovernmental
constraints upon the maintenance, improvement, or development of
housing for all income levels, including the availability of
financing, the price of land, and the cost of construction.
(7) An analysis of any special housing needs, such as those of the
elderly; persons with disabilities, including a developmental
disability, as defined in Section 4512 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code; large families; farmworkers; families with female
heads of households; and families and persons in need of emergency
shelter. The need for emergency shelter shall be assessed based on
annual and seasonal need. The need for emergency shelter may be
reduced by the number of supportive housing units that are identified
in an adopted 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness and that are
either vacant or for which funding has been identified to allow
construction during the planning period.
(8) An analysis of opportunities for energy conservation with
respect to residential development. Cities and counties are
encouraged to include weatherization and energy efficiency
improvements as part of publicly subsidized housing rehabilitation
projects. This may include energy efficiency measures that encompass
the building envelope, its heating and cooling systems, and its
electrical system.
(9) An analysis of existing assisted housing developments that are
eligible to change from low-income housing uses during the next 10
years due to termination of subsidy contracts, mortgage prepayment,
or expiration of restrictions on use. "Assisted housing developments,"
for the purpose of this section, shall mean multifamily rental
housing that receives governmental assistance under federal programs
listed in subdivision (a) of Section 65863.10, state and local
multifamily revenue bond programs, local redevelopment programs, the
federal Community Development Block Grant Program, or local in-lieu
fees. "Assisted housing developments" shall also include multifamily
rental units that were developed pursuant to a local inclusionary
housing program or used to qualify for a density bonus pursuant to
Section 65916.
(A) The analysis shall include a listing of each development by
project name and address, the type of governmental assistance
received, the earliest possible date of change from low-income use,
and the total number of elderly and nonelderly units that could be
lost from the locality's low-income housing stock in each year during
the 10-year period. For purposes of state and federally funded
projects, the analysis required by this subparagraph need only
contain information available on a statewide basis.
(B) The analysis shall estimate the total cost of producing new
rental housing that is comparable in size and rent levels, to replace
the units that could change from low-income use, and an estimated
cost of preserving the assisted housing developments. This cost
analysis for replacement housing may be done aggregately for each
five-year period and does not have to contain a project-by-project
cost estimate.
(C) The analysis shall identify public and private nonprofit
corporations known to the local government which have legal and
managerial capacity to acquire and manage these housing developments.
(D) The analysis shall identify and consider the use of all
federal, state, and local financing and subsidy programs which can be
used to preserve, for lower income households, the assisted housing
developments, identified in this paragraph, including, but not
limited to, federal Community Development Block Grant Program funds,
tax increment funds received by a redevelopment agency of the
community, and administrative fees received by a housing authority
operating within the community. In considering the use of these
financing and subsidy programs, the analysis shall identify the
amounts of funds under each available program which have not been
legally obligated for other purposes and which could be available for
use in preserving assisted housing developments.
(b) (1) A statement of the community's goals, quantified
objectives, and policies relative to the maintenance, preservation,
improvement, and development of housing.
(2) It is recognized that the total housing needs identified
pursuant to subdivision (a) may exceed available resources and the
community's ability to satisfy this need within the content of the
general plan requirements outlined in Article 5 (commencing with
Section 65300). Under these circumstances, the quantified objectives
need not be identical to the total housing needs. The quantified
objectives shall establish the maximum number of housing units by
income category, including extremely low income, that can be
constructed, rehabilitated, and conserved over a five-year time
period.
(c) A program which sets forth a schedule of actions during the
planning period, each with a timeline for implementation, which may
recognize that certain programs are ongoing, such that there will be
beneficial impacts of the programs within the planning period, that
the local government is undertaking or intends to undertake to
implement the policies and achieve the goals and objectives of the
housing element through the administration of land use and
development controls, the provision of regulatory concessions and
incentives, the utilization of appropriate federal and state
financing and subsidy programs when available, and the utilization of
moneys in a low- and moderate-income housing fund of an agency if
the locality has established a redevelopment project area pursuant to
the Community Redevelopment Law (Division 24 (commencing with
Section 33000) of the Health and Safety Code). In order to make
adequate provision for the housing needs of all economic segments of
the community, the program shall do all of the following:
(1) Identify actions that will be taken to make sites available
during the planning period with appropriate zoning and development
standards and with services and facilities to accommodate that
portion of the city's or county's share of the regional housing need
for each income level that could not be accommodated on sites
identified in the inventory completed pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a) without rezoning, and to comply with the requirements
of Section 65584.09. Sites shall be identified as needed to
facilitate and encourage the development of a variety of types of
housing for all income levels, including multifamily rental housing,
factory-built housing, mobilehomes, housing for agricultural
employees, supportive housing, single-room occupancy units, emergency
shelters, and transitional housing.
(A) Where the inventory of sites, pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a), does not identify adequate sites to accommodate the
need for groups of all household income levels pursuant to Section
65584, rezoning of those sites, including adoption of minimum density
and development standards, for jurisdictions with an eight-year
housing element planning period pursuant to Section 65588, shall be
completed no later than three years after either the date the housing
element is adopted pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 65585 or
the date that is 90 days after receipt of comments from the
department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 65585, whichever is
earlier, unless the deadline is extended pursuant to subdivision
(f). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a local government that fails
to adopt a housing element within 120 days of the statutory deadline
in Section 65588 for adoption of the housing element, rezoning of
those sites, including adoption of minimum density and development
standards, shall be completed no later than three years and 120 days
from the statutory deadline in Section 65588 for adoption of the
housing element.
(B) Where the inventory of sites, pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a), does not identify adequate sites to accommodate the
need for groups of all household income levels pursuant to Section
65584, the program shall identify sites that can be developed for
housing within the planning period pursuant to subdivision (h) of
Section 65583.2. The identification of sites shall include all
components specified in subdivision (b) of Section 65583.2.
(C) Where the inventory of sites pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a) does not identify adequate sites to accommodate the
need for farmworker housing, the program shall provide for sufficient
sites to meet the need with zoning that permits farmworker housing
use by right, including density and development standards that could
accommodate and facilitate the feasibility of the development of
farmworker housing for low- and very low income households.
(2) Assist in the development of adequate housing to meet the
needs of extremely low, very low, low-, and moderate-income
households.
(3) Address and, where appropriate and legally possible, remove
governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and
development of housing, including housing for all income levels and
housing for persons with disabilities. The program shall remove
constraints to, and provide reasonable accommodations for housing
designed for, intended for occupancy by, or with supportive services
for, persons with disabilities.
(4) Conserve and improve the condition of the existing affordable
housing stock, which may include addressing ways to mitigate the loss
of dwelling units demolished by public or private action.
(5) Promote housing opportunities for all persons regardless of
race, religion, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin,
color, familial status, or disability.
(6) Preserve for lower income households the assisted housing
developments identified pursuant to paragraph (9) of subdivision (a).
The program for preservation of the assisted housing developments
shall utilize, to the extent necessary, all available federal, state,
and local financing and subsidy programs identified in paragraph (9)
of subdivision (a), except where a community has other urgent needs
for which alternative funding sources are not available. The program
may include strategies that involve local regulation and technical
assistance.
(7) Include an identification of the agencies and officials
responsible for the implementation of the various actions and the
means by which consistency will be achieved with other general plan
elements and community goals.
(8) Include a diligent effort by the local government to achieve
public participation of all economic segments of the community in the
development of the housing element, and the program shall describe
this effort.
(d) (1) A local government may satisfy all or part of its
requirement to identify a zone or zones suitable for the development
of emergency shelters pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) by
adopting and implementing a multijurisdictional agreement, with a
maximum of two other adjacent communities, that requires the
participating jurisdictions to develop at least one year-round
emergency shelter within two years of the beginning of the planning
period.
(2) The agreement shall allocate a portion of the new shelter
capacity to each jurisdiction as credit towards its emergency shelter
need, and each jurisdiction shall describe how the capacity was
allocated as part of its housing element.
(3) Each member jurisdiction of a multijurisdictional agreement
shall describe in its housing element all of the following:
(A) How the joint facility will meet the jurisdiction's emergency
shelter need.
(B) The jurisdiction's contribution to the facility for both the
development and ongoing operation and management of the facility.
(C) The amount and source of the funding that the jurisdiction
contributes to the facility.
(4) The aggregate capacity claimed by the participating
jurisdictions in their housing elements shall not exceed the actual
capacity of the shelter.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this article, amendments to
this article that alter the required content of a housing element
shall apply to both of the following:
(1) A housing element or housing element amendment prepared
pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 65588 or Section 65584.02,
when a city, county, or city and county submits a draft to the
department for review pursuant to Section 65585 more than 90 days
after the effective date of the amendment to this section.
(2) Any housing element or housing element amendment prepared
pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 65588 or Section 65584.02,
when the city, county, or city and county fails to submit the first
draft to the department before the due date specified in Section
65588 or 65584.02.
(f) The deadline for completing required rezoning pursuant to
subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) shall be
extended by one year if the local government has completed the
rezoning at densities sufficient to accommodate at least 75 percent
of the units for low- and very low income households and if the
legislative body at the conclusion of a public hearing determines,
based upon substantial evidence, that any of the following
circumstances exist:
(1) The local government has been unable to complete the rezoning
because of the action or inaction beyond the control of the local
government of any other state, federal, or local agency.
(2) The local government is unable to complete the rezoning
because of infrastructure deficiencies due to fiscal or regulatory
constraints.
(3) The local government must undertake a major revision to its
general plan in order to accommodate the housing-related policies of
a sustainable communities strategy or an alternative planning
strategy adopted pursuant to Section 65080.
The resolution and the findings shall be transmitted to the
department together with a detailed budget and schedule for
preparation and adoption of the required rezonings, including plans
for citizen participation and expected interim action. The schedule
shall provide for adoption of the required rezoning within one year
of the adoption of the resolution.
(g) (1) If a local government fails to complete the rezoning by
the deadline provided in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c), as it may be extended pursuant to subdivision (f),
except as provided in paragraph (2), a local government may not
disapprove a housing development project, nor require a conditional
use permit, planned unit development permit, or other locally imposed
discretionary permit, or impose a condition that would render the
project infeasible, if the housing development project (A) is
proposed to be located on a site required to be rezoned pursuant to
the program action required by that subparagraph and (B) complies
with applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards and
criteria, including design review standards, described in the program
action required by that subparagraph. Any subdivision of sites shall
be subject to the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with
Section 66410)). Design review shall not constitute a "project" for
purposes of Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public
Resources Code.
(2) A local government may disapprove a housing development
described in paragraph (1) if it makes written findings supported by
substantial evidence on the record that both of the following
conditions exist:
(A) The housing development project would have a specific, adverse
impact upon the public health or safety unless the project is
disapproved or approved upon the condition that the project be
developed at a lower density. As used in this paragraph, a "specific,
adverse impact" means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and
unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified written public
health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed
on the date the application was deemed complete.
(B) There is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or
avoid the adverse impact identified pursuant to paragraph (1), other
than the disapproval of the housing development project or the
approval of the project upon the condition that it be developed at a
lower density.
(3) The applicant or any interested person may bring an action to
enforce this subdivision. If a court finds that the local agency
disapproved a project or conditioned its approval in violation of
this subdivision, the court shall issue an order or judgment
compelling compliance within 60 days. The court shall retain
jurisdiction to ensure that its order or judgment is carried out. If
the court determines that its order or judgment has not been carried
out within 60 days, the court may issue further orders to ensure that
the purposes and policies of this subdivision are fulfilled. In any
such action, the city, county, or city and county shall bear the
burden of proof.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, "housing development project"
means a project to construct residential units for which the project
developer provides sufficient legal commitments to the appropriate
local agency to ensure the continued availability and use of at least
49 percent of the housing units for very low, low-, and
moderate-income households with an affordable housing cost or
affordable rent, as defined in Section 50052.5 or 50053 of the Health
and Safety Code, respectively, for the period required by the
applicable financing.
(h) An action to enforce the program actions of the housing
element shall be brought pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of
Civil Procedure.

65583.1. (a) The Department of Housing and Community Development,
in evaluating a proposed or adopted housing element for substantial
compliance with this article, may allow a city or county to identify
adequate sites, as required pursuant to Section 65583, by a variety
of methods, including, but not limited to, redesignation of property
to a more intense land use category and increasing the density
allowed within one or more categories. The department may also allow
a city or county to identify sites for second units based on the
number of second units developed in the prior housing element
planning period whether or not the units are permitted by right, the
need for these units in the community, the resources or incentives
available for their development, and any other relevant factors, as
determined by the department. Nothing in this section reduces the
responsibility of a city or county to identify, by income category,
the total number of sites for residential development as required by
this article.
(b) Sites that contain permanent housing units located on a
military base undergoing closure or conversion as a result of action
pursuant to the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and
Realignment Act (Public Law 100-526), the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-510), or any subsequent act
requiring the closure or conversion of a military base may be
identified as an adequate site if the housing element demonstrates
that the housing units will be available for occupancy by households
within the planning period of the element. No sites containing
housing units scheduled or planned for demolition or conversion to
nonresidential uses shall qualify as an adequate site.
Any city, city and county, or county using this subdivision shall
address the progress in meeting this section in the reports provided
pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 65400.
(c) (1) The Department of Housing and Community Development may
allow a city or county to substitute the provision of units for up to
25 percent of the community's obligation to identify adequate sites
for any income category in its housing element pursuant to paragraph
(1) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583 where the community includes
in its housing element a program committing the local government to
provide units in that income category within the city or county that
will be made available through the provision of committed assistance
during the planning period covered by the element to low- and very
low income households at affordable housing costs or affordable
rents, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and
Safety Code, and which meet the requirements of paragraph (2). Except
as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the community may
substitute one dwelling unit for one dwelling unit site in the
applicable income category. The program shall do all of the
following:
(A) Identify the specific, existing sources of committed
assistance and dedicate a specific portion of the funds from those
sources to the provision of housing pursuant to this subdivision.
(B) Indicate the number of units that will be provided to both
low- and very low income households and demonstrate that the amount
of dedicated funds is sufficient to develop the units at affordable
housing costs or affordable rents.
(C) Demonstrate that the units meet the requirements of paragraph
(2).
(2) Only units that comply with subparagraph (A), (B), or (C)
qualify for inclusion in the housing element program described in
paragraph (1), as follows:
(A) Units that are to be substantially rehabilitated with
committed assistance from the city or county and constitute a net
increase in the community's stock of housing affordable to low- and
very low income households. For purposes of this subparagraph, a unit
is not eligible to be "substantially rehabilitated" unless all of
the following requirements are met:
(i) At the time the unit is identified for substantial
rehabilitation, (I) the local government has determined that the unit
is at imminent risk of loss to the housing stock, (II) the local
government has committed to provide relocation assistance pursuant to
Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1
to any occupants temporarily or permanently displaced by the
rehabilitation or code enforcement activity, or the relocation is
otherwise provided prior to displacement either as a condition of
receivership, or provided by the property owner or the local
government pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 17975) of
Chapter 5 of Part 1.5 of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code,
or as otherwise provided by local ordinance; provided the assistance
includes not less than the equivalent of four months' rent and moving
expenses and comparable replacement housing consistent with the
moving expenses and comparable replacement housing required pursuant
to Section 7260, (III) the local government requires that any
displaced occupants will have the right to reoccupy the rehabilitated
units, and (IV) the unit has been found by the local government or a
court to be unfit for human habitation due to the existence of at
least four violations of the conditions listed in subdivisions (a) to
(g), inclusive, of Section 17995.3 of the Health and Safety Code.
(ii) The rehabilitated unit will have long-term affordability
covenants and restrictions that require the unit to be available to,
and occupied by, persons or families of low- or very low income at
affordable housing costs for at least 20 years or the time period
required by any applicable federal or state law or regulation.
(iii) Prior to initial occupancy after rehabilitation, the local
code enforcement agency shall issue a certificate of occupancy
indicating compliance with all applicable state and local building
code and health and safety code requirements.
(B) Units that are located in a multifamily rental or ownership
housing complex of three or more units, are converted with committed
assistance from the city or county from nonaffordable to affordable
by acquisition of the unit or the purchase of affordability covenants
and restrictions for the unit, are not acquired by eminent domain,
and constitute a net increase in the community's stock of housing
affordable to low- and very low income households. For purposes of
this subparagraph, a unit is not converted by acquisition or the
purchase of affordability covenants unless all of the following
occur:
(i) The unit is made available for rent at a cost affordable to
low- or very low income households.
(ii) At the time the unit is identified for acquisition, the unit
is not available at an affordable housing cost to either of the
following:
(I) Low-income households, if the unit will be made affordable to
low-income households.
(II) Very low income households, if the unit will be made
affordable to very low income households.
(iii) At the time the unit is identified for acquisition the unit
is not occupied by low- or very low income households or if the
acquired unit is occupied, the local government has committed to
provide relocation assistance prior to displacement, if any, pursuant
to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title
1 to any occupants displaced by the conversion, or the relocation is
otherwise provided prior to displacement; provided the assistance
includes not less than the equivalent of four months' rent and moving
expenses and comparable replacement housing consistent with the
moving expenses and comparable replacement housing required pursuant
to Section 7260.
(iv) The unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition at the
time of occupancy.
(v) The unit has long-term affordability covenants and
restrictions that require the unit to be affordable to persons of
low- or very low income for not less than 55 years.
(vi) For units located in multifamily ownership housing complexes
with three or more units, at least an equal number of
new-construction multifamily rental units affordable to lower income
households have been constructed in the city or county within the
same planning period as the number of ownership units to be
converted.
(C) Units that will be preserved at affordable housing costs to
persons or families of low- or very low incomes with committed
assistance from the city or county by acquisition of the unit or the
purchase of affordability covenants for the unit. For purposes of
this subparagraph, a unit shall not be deemed preserved unless all of
the following occur:
(i) The unit has long-term affordability covenants and
restrictions that require the unit to be affordable to and reserved
for occupancy by persons of the same or lower income group as the
current occupants for a period of at least 40 years.
(ii) The unit is within an "assisted housing development," as
defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 65863.10.
(iii) The city or county finds, after a public hearing, that the
unit is eligible, and is reasonably expected, to change from housing
affordable to low- and very low income households to any other use
during the next five years due to termination of subsidy contracts,
mortgage prepayment, or expiration of restrictions on use.
(iv) The unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition at the
time of occupancy.
(v) At the time the unit is identified for preservation it is
available at affordable cost to persons or families of low- or very
low income.
(3) This subdivision does not apply to any city or county that,
during the current or immediately prior planning period, as defined
by Section 65588, has not met any of its share of the regional need
for affordable housing, as defined in Section 65584, for low- and
very low income households. A city or county shall document for any
housing unit that a building permit has been issued and all
development and permit fees have been paid or the unit is eligible to
be lawfully occupied.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, "committed assistance" means
that the city or county enters into a legally enforceable agreement
during the period from the beginning of the projection period until
the end of the second year of the planning period that obligates
sufficient available funds to provide the assistance necessary to
make the identified units affordable and that requires that the units
be made available for occupancy within two years of the execution of
the agreement. "Committed assistance" does not include tenant-based
rental assistance.
(5) For purposes of this subdivision, "net increase" includes only
housing units provided committed assistance pursuant to subparagraph
(A) or (B) of paragraph (2) in the current planning period, as
defined in Section 65588, that were not provided committed assistance
in the immediately prior planning period.
(6) For purposes of this subdivision, "the time the unit is
identified" means the earliest time when any city or county agent,
acting on behalf of a public entity, has proposed in writing or has
proposed orally or in writing to the property owner, that the unit be
considered for substantial rehabilitation, acquisition, or
preservation.
(7) In the third year of the planning period, as defined by
Section 65588, in the report required pursuant to Section 65400, each
city or county that has included in its housing element a program to
provide units pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph
(2) shall report in writing to the legislative body, and to the
department within 30 days of making its report to the legislative
body, on its progress in providing units pursuant to this
subdivision. The report shall identify the specific units for which
committed assistance has been provided or which have been made
available to low- and very low income households, and it shall
adequately document how each unit complies with this subdivision. If,
by July 1 of the third year of the planning period, the city or
county has not entered into an enforceable agreement of committed
assistance for all units specified in the programs adopted pursuant
to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2), the city or county
shall, not later than July 1 of the fourth year of the planning
period, adopt an amended housing element in accordance with Section
65585, identifying additional adequate sites pursuant to paragraph
(1) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583 sufficient to accommodate the
number of units for which committed assistance was not provided. If
a city or county does not amend its housing element to identify
adequate sites to address any shortfall, or fails to complete the
rehabilitation, acquisition, purchase of affordability covenants, or
the preservation of any housing unit within two years after committed
assistance was provided to that unit, it shall be prohibited from
identifying units pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of
paragraph (2) in the housing element that it adopts for the next
planning period, as defined in Section 65588, above the number of
units actually provided or preserved due to committed assistance.

65583.2. (a) A city's or county's inventory of land suitable for
residential development pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a)
of Section 65583 shall be used to identify sites that can be
developed for housing within the planning period and that are
sufficient to provide for the jurisdiction's share of the regional
housing need for all income levels pursuant to Section 65584. As used
in this section, "land suitable for residential development"
includes all of the following:
(1) Vacant sites zoned for residential use.
(2) Vacant sites zoned for nonresidential use that allows
residential development.
(3) Residentially zoned sites that are capable of being developed
at a higher density.
(4) Sites zoned for nonresidential use that can be redeveloped
for, and as necessary, rezoned for, residential use.
(b) The inventory of land shall include all of the following:
(1) A listing of properties by parcel number or other unique
reference.
(2) The size of each property listed pursuant to paragraph (1),
and the general plan designation and zoning of each property.
(3) For nonvacant sites, a description of the existing use of each
property.
(4) A general description of any environmental constraints to the
development of housing within the jurisdiction, the documentation for
which has been made available to the jurisdiction. This information
need not be identified on a site-specific basis.
(5) A general description of existing or planned water, sewer, and
other dry utilities supply, including the availability and access to
distribution facilities. This information need not be identified on
a site-specific basis.
(6) Sites identified as available for housing for above
moderate-income households in areas not served by public sewer
systems. This information need not be identified on a site-specific
basis.
(7) A map that shows the location of the sites included in the
inventory, such as the land use map from the jurisdiction's general
plan for reference purposes only.
(c) Based on the information provided in subdivision (b), a city
or county shall determine whether each site in the inventory can
accommodate some portion of its share of the regional housing need by
income level during the planning period, as determined pursuant to
Section 65584. The analysis shall determine whether the inventory can
provide for a variety of types of housing, including multifamily
rental housing, factory-built housing, mobilehomes, housing for
agricultural employees, emergency shelters, and transitional housing.
The city or county shall determine the number of housing units that
can be accommodated on each site as follows:
(1) If local law or regulations require the development of a site
at a minimum density, the department shall accept the planning agency'
s calculation of the total housing unit capacity on that site based
on the established minimum density. If the city or county does not
adopt a law or regulations requiring the development of a site at a
minimum density, then it shall demonstrate how the number of units
determined for that site pursuant to this subdivision will be
accommodated.
(2) The number of units calculated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall
be adjusted as necessary, based on the land use controls and site
improvements requirement identified in paragraph (5) of subdivision
(a) of Section 65583.
(3) For the number of units calculated to accommodate its share of
the regional housing need for lower income households pursuant to
paragraph (2), a city or county shall do either of the following:
(A) Provide an analysis demonstrating how the adopted densities
accommodate this need. The analysis shall include, but is not limited
to, factors such as market demand, financial feasibility, or
information based on development project experience within a zone or
zones that provide housing for lower income households.
(B) The following densities shall be deemed appropriate to
accommodate housing for lower income households:
(i) For incorporated cities within nonmetropolitan counties and
for nonmetropolitan counties that have micropolitan areas: sites
allowing at least 15 units per acre.
(ii) For unincorporated areas in all nonmetropolitan counties not
included in clause (i): sites allowing at least 10 units per acre.
(iii) For suburban jurisdictions: sites allowing at least 20 units
per acre.
(iv) For jurisdictions in metropolitan counties: sites allowing at
least 30 units per acre.
(d) For purposes of this section, metropolitan counties,
nonmetropolitan counties, and nonmetropolitan counties with
micropolitan areas are as determined by the United States Census
Bureau. Nonmetropolitan counties with micropolitan areas include the
following counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada,
Tehama, and Tuolumne and such other counties as may be determined by
the United States Census Bureau to be nonmetropolitan counties with
micropolitan areas in the future.
(e) A jurisdiction is considered suburban if the jurisdiction does
not meet the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph
(B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) and is located in a
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) of less than 2,000,000 in
population, unless that jurisdiction's population is greater than
100,000, in which case it is considered metropolitan. Counties, not
including the City and County of San Francisco, will be considered
suburban unless they are in a MSA of 2,000,000 or greater in
population in which case they are considered metropolitan.
(f) A jurisdiction is considered metropolitan if the jurisdiction
does not meet the requirements for "suburban area" above and is
located in a MSA of 2,000,000 or greater in population, unless that
jurisdiction's population is less than 25,000 in which case it is
considered suburban.
(g) For sites described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), the
city or county shall specify the additional development potential for
each site within the planning period and shall provide an
explanation of the methodology used to determine the development
potential. The methodology shall consider factors including the
extent to which existing uses may constitute an impediment to
additional residential development, development trends, market
conditions, and regulatory or other incentives or standards to
encourage additional residential development on these sites.
(h) The program required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c) of Section 65583 shall accommodate 100 percent of the
need for housing for very low and low-income households allocated
pursuant to Section 65584 for which site capacity has not been
identified in the inventory of sites pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a) on sites that shall be zoned to permit owner-occupied
and rental multifamily residential use by right during the planning
period. These sites shall be zoned with minimum density and
development standards that permit at least 16 units per site at a
density of at least 16 units per acre in jurisdictions described in
clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c)
and at least 20 units per acre in jurisdictions described in clauses
(iii) and (iv) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision
(c). At least 50 percent of the very low and low-income housing need
shall be accommodated on sites designated for residential use and for
which nonresidential uses or mixed-uses are not permitted.
(i) For purposes of this section and Section 65583, the phrase
"use by right" shall mean that the local government's review of the
owner-occupied or multifamily residential use may not require a
conditional use permit, planned unit development permit, or other
discretionary local government review or approval that would
constitute a "project" for purposes of Division 13 (commencing with
Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code. Any subdivision of the
sites shall be subject to all laws, including, but not limited to,
the local government ordinance implementing the Subdivision Map Act.
A local ordinance may provide that "use by right" does not exempt the
use from design review. However, that design review shall not
constitute a "project" for purposes of Division 13 (commencing with
Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code. Use by right for all
rental multifamily residential housing shall be provided in
accordance with subdivision (f) of Section 65589.5.

65584. (a) (1) For the fourth and subsequent revisions of the
housing element pursuant to Section 65588, the department shall
determine the existing and projected need for housing for each region
pursuant to this article. For purposes of subdivision (a) of Section
65583, the share of a city or county of the regional housing need
shall include that share of the housing need of persons at all income
levels within the area significantly affected by the general plan of
the city or county.
(2) While it is the intent of the Legislature that cities,
counties, and cities and counties should undertake all necessary
actions to encourage, promote, and facilitate the development of
housing to accommodate the entire regional housing need, it is
recognized, however, that future housing production may not equal the
regional housing need established for planning purposes.
(b) The department, in consultation with each council of
governments, shall determine each region's existing and projected
housing need pursuant to Section 65584.01 at least two years prior to
the scheduled revision required pursuant to Section 65588. The
appropriate council of governments, or for cities and counties
without a council of governments, the department, shall adopt a final
regional housing need plan that allocates a share of the regional
housing need to each city, county, or city and county at least one
year prior to the scheduled revision for the region required by
Section 65588. The allocation plan prepared by a council of
governments shall be prepared pursuant to Sections 65584.04 and
65584.05 with the advice of the department.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the due dates for
the determinations of the department or for the council of
governments, respectively, regarding the regional housing need may be
extended by the department by not more than 60 days if the extension
will enable access to more recent critical population or housing
data from a pending or recent release of the United States Census
Bureau or the Department of Finance. If the due date for the
determination of the department or the council of governments is
extended for this reason, the department shall extend the
corresponding housing element revision deadline pursuant to Section
65588 by not more than 60 days.
(d) The regional housing needs allocation plan shall be consistent
with all of the following objectives:
(1) Increasing the housing supply and the mix of housing types,
tenure, and affordability in all cities and counties within the
region in an equitable manner, which shall result in each
jurisdiction receiving an allocation of units for low- and very low
income households.
(2) Promoting infill development and socioeconomic equity, the
protection of environmental and agricultural resources, and the
encouragement of efficient development patterns.
(3) Promoting an improved intraregional relationship between jobs
and housing.
(4) Allocating a lower proportion of housing need to an income
category when a jurisdiction already has a disproportionately high
share of households in that income category, as compared to the
countywide distribution of households in that category from the most
recent decennial United States census.
(e) For purposes of this section, "household income levels" are as
determined by the department as of the most recent decennial census
pursuant to the following code sections:
(1) Very low incomes as defined by Section 50105 of the Health and
Safety Code.
(2) Lower incomes, as defined by Section 50079.5 of the Health and
Safety Code.
(3) Moderate incomes, as defined by Section 50093 of the Health
and Safety Code.
(4) Above moderate incomes are those exceeding the moderate-income
level of Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, determinations
made by the department, a council of governments, or a city or county
pursuant to this section or Section 65584.01, 65584.02, 65584.03,
65584.04, 65584.05, 65584.06, 65584.07, or 65584.08 are exempt from
the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing
with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).

65584.01. (a) For the fourth and subsequent revision of the housing
element pursuant to Section 65588, the department, in consultation
with each council of governments, where applicable, shall determine
the existing and projected need for housing for each region in the
following manner:
(b) The department's determination shall be based upon population
projections produced by the Department of Finance and regional
population forecasts used in preparing regional transportation plans,
in consultation with each council of governments. If the total
regional population forecast for the planning period, developed by
the council of governments and used for the preparation of the
regional transportation plan, is within a range of 3 percent of the
total regional population forecast for the planning period over the
same time period by the Department of Finance, then the population
forecast developed by the council of governments shall be the basis
from which the department determines the existing and projected need
for housing in the region. If the difference between the total
population growth projected by the council of governments and the
total population growth projected for the region by the Department of
Finance is greater than 3 percent, then the department and the
council of governments shall meet to discuss variances in methodology
used for population projections and seek agreement on a population
projection for the region to be used as a basis for determining the
existing and projected housing need for the region. If no agreement
is reached, then the population projection for the region shall be
the population projection for the region prepared by the Department
of Finance as may be modified by the department as a result of
discussions with the council of governments.
(c) (1) At least 26 months prior to the scheduled revision
pursuant to Section 65588 and prior to developing the existing and
projected housing need for a region, the department shall meet and
consult with the council of governments regarding the assumptions and
methodology to be used by the department to determine the region's
housing needs. The council of governments shall provide data
assumptions from the council's projections, including, if available,
the following data for the region:
(A) Anticipated household growth associated with projected
population increases.
(B) Household size data and trends in household size.
(C) The rate of household formation, or headship rates, based on
age, gender, ethnicity, or other established demographic measures.
(D) The vacancy rates in existing housing stock, and the vacancy
rates for healthy housing market functioning and regional mobility,
as well as housing replacement needs.
(E) Other characteristics of the composition of the projected
population.
(F) The relationship between jobs and housing, including any
imbalance between jobs and housing.
(2) The department may accept or reject the information provided
by the council of governments or modify its own assumptions or
methodology based on this information. After consultation with the
council of governments, the department shall make determinations in
writing on the assumptions for each of the factors listed in
subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, of paragraph (1) and the
methodology it shall use and shall provide these determinations to
the council of governments.
(d) (1) After consultation with the council of governments, the
department shall make a determination of the region's existing and
projected housing need based upon the assumptions and methodology
determined pursuant to subdivision (c). The region's existing and
projected housing need shall reflect the achievement of a feasible
balance between jobs and housing within the region using the regional
employment projections in the applicable regional transportation
plan. Within 30 days following notice of the determination from the
department, the council of governments may file an objection to the
department's determination of the region's existing and projected
housing need with the department.
(2) The objection shall be based on and substantiate either of the
following:
(A) The department failed to base its determination on the
population projection for the region established pursuant to
subdivision (b), and shall identify the population projection which
the council of governments believes should instead be used for the
determination and explain the basis for its rationale.
(B) The regional housing need determined by the department is not
a reasonable application of the methodology and assumptions
determined pursuant to subdivision (c). The objection shall include a
proposed alternative determination of its regional housing need
based upon the determinations made in subdivision (c), including
analysis of why the proposed alternative would be a more reasonable
application of the methodology and assumptions determined pursuant to
subdivision (c).
(3) If a council of governments files an objection pursuant to
this subdivision and includes with the objection a proposed
alternative determination of its regional housing need, it shall also
include documentation of its basis for the alternative
determination. Within 45 days of receiving an objection filed
pursuant to this section, the department shall consider the objection
and make a final written determination of the region's existing and
projected housing need that includes an explanation of the
information upon which the determination was made.

65584.02. (a) For the fourth and subsequent revisions of the
housing element pursuant to Section 65588, the existing and projected
need for housing may be determined for each region by the department
as follows, as an alternative to the process pursuant to Section
65584.01:
(1) In a region in which at least one subregion has accepted
delegated authority pursuant to Section 65584.03, the region's
housing need shall be determined at least 26 months prior to the
housing element update deadline pursuant to Section 65588. In a
region in which no subregion has accepted delegation pursuant to
Section 65584.03, the region's housing need shall be determined at
least 24 months prior to the housing element deadline.
(2) At least six months prior to the department's determination of
regional housing need pursuant to paragraph (1), a council of
governments may request the use of population and household forecast
assumptions used in the regional transportation plan. This request
shall include all of the following:
(A) Proposed data and assumptions for factors contributing to
housing need beyond household growth identified in the forecast.
These factors shall include allowance for vacant or replacement
units, and may include other adjustment factors.
(B) A proposed planning period that is not longer than the period
of time covered by the regional transportation improvement plan or
plans of the region pursuant to Section 14527, but a period not less
than five years, and not longer than six years.
(C) A comparison between the population and household assumptions
used for the Regional Transportation Plan with population and
household estimates and projections of the Department of Finance.
(b) The department shall consult with the council of governments
regarding requests submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision
(a). The department may seek advice and consult with the Demographic
Research Unit of the Department of Finance, the State Department of
Transportation, a representative of a contiguous council of
governments, and any other party as deemed necessary. The department
may request that the council of governments revise data, assumptions,
or methodology to be used for the determination of regional housing
need, or may reject the request submitted pursuant to paragraph (2)
of subdivision (a). Subsequent to consultation with the council of
governments, the department will respond in writing to requests
submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(c) If the council of governments does not submit a request
pursuant to subdivision (a), or if the department rejects the request
of the council of governments, the determination for the region
shall be made pursuant to Sections 65584 and 65584.01.

65584.03. (a) At least 28 months prior to the scheduled housing
element update required by Section 65588, at least two or more cities
and a county, or counties, may form a subregional entity for the
purpose of allocation of the subregion's existing and projected need
for housing among its members in accordance with the allocation
methodology established pursuant to Section 65584.04. The purpose of
establishing a subregion shall be to recognize the community of
interest and mutual challenges and opportunities for providing
housing within a subregion. A subregion formed pursuant to this
section may include a single county and each of the cities in that
county or any other combination of geographically contiguous local
governments and shall be approved by the adoption of a resolution by
each of the local governments in the subregion as well as by the
council of governments. All decisions of the subregion shall be
approved by vote as provided for in rules adopted by the local
governments comprising the subregion or shall be approved by vote of
the county or counties, if any, and the majority of the cities with
the majority of population within a county or counties.
(b) Upon formation of the subregional entity, the entity shall
notify the council of governments of this formation. If the council
of governments has not received notification from an eligible
subregional entity at least 28 months prior to the scheduled housing
element update required by Section 65588, the council of governments
shall implement the provisions of Sections 65584 and 65584.04. The
delegate subregion and the council of governments shall enter into an
agreement that sets forth the process, timing, and other terms and
conditions of the delegation of responsibility by the council of
governments to the subregion.
(c) At least 25 months prior to the scheduled revision, the
council of governments shall determine the share of regional housing
need assigned to each delegate subregion. The share or shares
allocated to the delegate subregion or subregions by a council of
governments shall be in a proportion consistent with the distribution
of household