State provides new tools for cities focused on housing production
Apr 14, 2021
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has created a new set of tools for cities on its website dedicated to accelerating housing production.
The technical assistance webpage now includes the Housing Planning Hub, which is a repository of statewide and regional toolkits, fact sheets, and guidance on a variety of housing policy areas with a specific focus on priority policy areas.
In 2017, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 2, which established a permanent source of funding intended to increase the affordable housing stock in California. The bill also made available technical assistance for cities for the purpose of accelerating housing production. Five percent of SB 2 dollars directs HCD, in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, to develop a technical assistance program to assist localities in planning efforts that accelerate housing production and streamline the approvals of housing.
As a result, cities now have access to a repository of statewide tools (with regional customization), resources, and guidance such as model ordinances, toolkits, fact sheets, staff reports, and guidance on key housing policy areas such as by-right zoning, objective design and development standards, housing elements, California Environmental Quality Act, accessory dwelling units, and expedited processing.
These tools and services can be used to help local governments accelerate and streamline housing production. HCD will continually update the resource center as new tools become available. More information on HCD’s technical assistance program can be found on the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Program webpage.
The state is also offering several competitive grant programs to assist with affordable housing and infrastructure needs, including HCD’s Infill Infrastructure Program and the Strategic Growth Council’s Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Program.
Email earlyactionplanning@hcd.ca.gov for any questions about the Housing Planning Hub Site.
In 2017, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 2, which established a permanent source of funding intended to increase the affordable housing stock in California. The bill also made available technical assistance for cities for the purpose of accelerating housing production. Five percent of SB 2 dollars directs HCD, in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, to develop a technical assistance program to assist localities in planning efforts that accelerate housing production and streamline the approvals of housing.
As a result, cities now have access to a repository of statewide tools (with regional customization), resources, and guidance such as model ordinances, toolkits, fact sheets, staff reports, and guidance on key housing policy areas such as by-right zoning, objective design and development standards, housing elements, California Environmental Quality Act, accessory dwelling units, and expedited processing.
These tools and services can be used to help local governments accelerate and streamline housing production. HCD will continually update the resource center as new tools become available. More information on HCD’s technical assistance program can be found on the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Program webpage.
The state is also offering several competitive grant programs to assist with affordable housing and infrastructure needs, including HCD’s Infill Infrastructure Program and the Strategic Growth Council’s Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities Program.
Email earlyactionplanning@hcd.ca.gov for any questions about the Housing Planning Hub Site.