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 3.1 Planned Development Districts and Mixed Use. | To optimize the use of developable land to maximize the General Plan density of each developable site; and
To allow for implementation of Density Bonus provisions when appropriate | Planning Department is responsible for the review of planned development applications. City Council is responsible for the adoption of planned development rezones. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 4.2 Senior Housing. | To maintain affordable housing for seniors within the community. | Town of Colma Administration and the Department of Public Works responsible for maintenance/management of the facility. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 5.4 Housing Recordkeeping. | To conserve and improve the condition of the existing housing stock. | Planning Department is responsible for the ongoing management of the existing program. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 5.1 Knowledgeable Housing Referral. | To assure that referrals can be made to provide equal access to housing. | Planning Department is responsible for the ongoing management of the existing program. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 3.5 Planned Development Zoning Provisions for Single Family Attached Development. | To optimize the use of developable land to maximize the General Plan density of each developable site; and
To allow for implementation of Density Bonus provisions when appropriate | Ongoing enforcement of existing ordinance and standards. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 5.5 Address needs of Extremely Low-Income Households. | To assist developers and property owners in making affordable units available, which, in turn, provides equal housing opportunities. | Planning Department will lead the outreach and information dispersal efforts. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 7.4 Low-interest loan program for very-low, low, and moderate income homeowners. | To conserve and improve the condition of the existing housing stock.
To allow low income homeowners to remain in their homes | Study completed in 2016. Program was determined to be infeasible. | Completed. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 1.2 General Plan Consistency Review and Annual Report | Increase awareness to decision makers of annual progress toward meeting Housing Element Goals. | Continue internal consistency review annually and make report available to the public. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 2.1 Second Unit Ordinance | To increase the number of second dwelling units; and
To encourage the development of second units in areas of the town where they are permitted or conditionally permitted (C and R zones) | Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance adopted in 2017. The ordinance was amended in 2022 to comply with new state housing laws.
Planning Department is responsible for providing information to prospective developers in areas where second units are permitted. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 3.6 Ensure No Net Loss of Required Units. | To assure that all units identified in the Housing Element will be built on designated sites or alternative sites. | Ongoing provision of information to developers and enforcement of the no net loss provision. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 5.2 Human Investment Project (HIP) Support. | Supports better utilization of existing housing stock and provides affordable housing. It also supports better maintenance of existing housing stock. | Planning Department is responsible for the ongoing management of the existing program.
City Council responsible for the approval of any monetary support | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 7.7 Organize Community Clean Up Days. | To conserve and improve the condition of the existing housing stock. | Planning and Recreation departments organize community clean-up days on an annual basis. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 1.1 Manufactured Housing Design Standards | Allows for construction of single family residences at lower costs, thereby reducing the cost of housing. | Ordinance 720 adopted in 2013. Planning Department is responsible for making developers aware of this provision. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 3.2 Density Bonus Provisions for Affordable Housing. | To increase the supply of housing units through the use of density bonus provisions. | Density Bonus Ordinance Adopted in 2005.
Planning Department continues to make developers aware of density bonus provisions. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 6.2 Encourage use of cool roofing systems and other energy conservation measures to reduce a building’s energy usage. | • To create new and sustainable residential development
• To retrofit existing structures to increase efficiency and reduce energy use and cost | The Planning and Building Department provide information to the public on programs to assist in the provision of energy efficiency measures during new construction or as a residential retrofit. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 7.3 Neighborhood Improvement (Code Enforcement). | To conserve and improve the condition of the existing housing stock. | Ordinance adopted September 12, 2012. | Completed. Ongoing code enforcement program. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 7.5 Underground Utilities in the Mission Road Corridor. | To make Mission Road more attractive for new residential development. | Portions completed but suspended due to recession. Project to remain in CIP until implemented. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 7.6 Nuisance Abatement and Property Maintenance process to Improve Individual Properties and Neighborhood Pride. | To conserve and improve the condition of the existing housing stock | Planning Department is responsible for ongoing enforcement of municipal zoning code | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 3.3 High-Density Housing Near Colma and South San Francisco BART Stations. | To facilitate the development of housing units and affordable housing units in proximity to the BART station. | Ongoing provision of information to prospective property buyers | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Program 4.1 Reasonable Accommodations Ordinance Public Information, Ordinance Amendment and Monitoring | To assure that reasonable accommodation is made for individuals to have equal access to housing. | Town amended ordinance in 2007.
The Planning Department continues to monitor the implementation of the Town’s codes, policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with the “reasonable accommodation” for disabled provisions and all fair housing laws. | Ongoing. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |