Housing policies and programs are the strategies and laws that cities and counties legally have at their disposal to produce more and preserve existing affordable housing, as well as protect existing residents from getting displaced from their homes and communities.
Local housing policies and programs, as part of a housing element, have significant impacts on a city or county reaching its affordable housing goals. Each additional housing policy has a significant impact on the residents who are most in need of affordable housing. However, the number of policies or programs that a jurisdiction includes in their housing element is not meant to imply how well a city or county is addressing local housing needs since the quality and impact of each will need to be determined as well. Policies and programs listed here from jurisdictions’ Housing Elements are intended to allow readers to review the text themselves and see if a city or county is doing all they can to reach their affordable housing goals.
To further policy innovation and local action, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) contacted all of the region's jurisdictions to track the adoption of key housing policies throughout the nine county Bay Area in four major categories Protect, Preserve, Produce, and Prevent. This data is from ABAG’s Policies and Program list and was last updated in 2018/2019.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development tracks all of the ongoing and completed programs from 2018 onward and can be seen in the table below.
YEAR | PROGRAM NAME | PROGRAM OBJECTIVE | STATUS | ACCOMPLISHED DATE | HOUSING CYCLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Program H.I.2.a: Housing constraints | Advise outside agencies regarding unnecessary constraints | Ongoing as development projects are submitted for consideration. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.3.f: HIP Housing | Support Human Investment Program (HIP) shared housing program. | Updated information and rental listings posted regularly on City website www.brisbaneca.org. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.9.I: State and Federal programs | Encourage affordable housing | City evaluates projects for eligibility for State/Federal funding programs and potential matches as projects arise. No such projects were eligible in 2022. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.F.3.a: Water conservation | Inform the public via various means | Ordinance 607 adopted by the City Council on April 7, 2016 updating the City's water conservation in landscaping ordinance. Water conservation information provided on the City's website and advertised in City newsletters and social media accounts. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.I.1.d: Design Permits | Reduce unnecessary constraints | See Program H.I.1.a above regarding SB 2 Planning Grant work program. Ongoing as development projects are submitted for review. Design Permit for 16-unit senior housing/commercial development approved in October 2017. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.I.1.e: Nonconforming structures | Preserve housing units | See Program H.C.1.c | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.3.d: Reasonable accommodation | Minimize constraints | Ordinance 558 adopted April 2011. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.3.h: Continuum of Care/HEART | Shelter and serve the homeless | City is member agency of HEART and information is linked on www.brisbaneca.org. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.6.a: Hillside development | Reduce development costs | City received SB 2 Planning Grants Program approval to conduct district-wide biological assessment for hillside lots in SCRO-1 zoning district to streamline housing development application processing. Biological assessment completed in spring 2021 and adoption of operating program is anticipated first quarter of 2024 pending consultation with San Mateo County Parks and US Fish and Wildlife. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.8.a: Section 8 rent subsidies | Keep informed of opportunities from County | Ongoing coordination with County Housing Department and Housing Authority as opportunities arise | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.9.b: Land banking | Acquire sites for affordable housing | On hold pending establishment of ongoing funding source. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.C.1.a: Voluntary code inspection program | Identify basic life safety problems | Ongoing coordination with North County Fire Authority. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.4.a: Condominium conversions | Maintain affordable rental units | Ordinance 566 adopted October 2013 requires Use Permit for condominium conversions. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.G.1.a: Regional Planning | Cooperate in Plan Bay Area process | City actively participated in Plan Bay Area 2050 update in 2020 and 2021. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.H.2.b: Clustered development | Promote clustered development in areas near sensitive habitat | Ordinance 562 adopted October 2011 to relax certain development standards if clustered development is pursued. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.I.2.b: League of Cities | Work with League of Cities to identify and address housing constraints due to preemption of outside agencies | Ongoing advocacy through membership in League of Cities. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.3.a: Special needs housing | Identify suitable sites | Opportunities considered on a case-by-case basis but constrained by limited funding opportunities and limited land/site availability. City continues to hold exploratory discussions with school district and regional housing trust regarding potential teacher/district employee housing on city-owned sites. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.3.i: Emergency Shelters | Allow in SCRO-1 district | Ordinance 443 adopted in 2000 allows emergency shelters as permitted use in the SCRO-1 district. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.B.9.h: Self-help/sweat equity programs | Preserve and provide affordable units | Opportunities considered on a case-by-case basis but constrained by limited funding. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program H.C.1.b: Low-interest rehab loan program | Publicize and encourage use. | Brochures available at Building and Planning Counter and information available on www.brisbaneca.org | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |