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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Program H-2.3.a Nonresidential Development Impact Fee | Impact fees to be used for affordable housing | The Town will continue to implement the Nonresidential Development Impact Fee. This fee is collected for any change in use that is to a nonresidential use, for any new nonresidential use, and for any expansion of a nonresidential use. Fee proceeds are deposited in the Affordable Housing Fund (CMMC, Chapter 3.48).
Status: The Town collected $4,412.08 in non-residential impact fees in calendar year 2023 (1/1/2023 through 12/31/2023). | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.4.b Employee Housing Bonus Units | 2 units of employee housing | As part of the development review process for larger projects, and where permitted by the General Plan land use designations, the base zoning district and/or overlay zoning, offer density bonuses as an incentive to provide on-site affordable employee housing.
Status: Dependent on developer interest. No applications submitted in 2023. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.1.b Objective Development and Design Standards | Implementation of objective development and design standards | Encourage and require pursuant to the Municipal Code multi-family housing projects to utilize the Objective Development and Design Standards in Title 22 and accompanying architectural standards in developing project designs. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-4.4.a Housing Element Review | Annual assessment of housing programs | Provide opportunities for public input and discussion, in conjunction with State requirements for a written review by April 1 of each year. (Per Government Code Section 65400). Based on the review, establish annual work priorities for staff, Planning Commission and Town Council. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-1.6.c. Residential Care Homes | Small residential facilities for persons with special needs | Continue to allow small licensed group homes by right in all residential districts without the requirement for a Use Permit or other discretionary approval for six or fewer persons who are not disabled but are in need of twenty-four hour nonmedical care. Continue to allow small licensed residential care facilities by right in all residential districts without the requirement for a Use Permit or other discretionary approval for six or fewer persons who are disabled, including developmentally disabled, and in need of twenty-four hour nonmedical care.
Status: Not started. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.5.a Code Enforcement | Housing conservation | Continue Zoning, Building, and Fire Code enforcement to ensure compliance with development and maintenance regulations as well as health and safety standards. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.9.b Mixed-Use Development | 695 housing units in mixed-use projects | The Town will support mixed-use projects including residential components, such as live-work combinations or ground-floor retail with upper story residential use. Such projects will be encouraged over standard single-use development proposals where the underlying zoning allows mixed-use developments. Encourage opportunities for live/work developments where housing can be provided for workers on-site or caretaker or other types of housing can be provided in appropriate locations. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.3.a Condominium Conversion Ordinance | Preservation of rental units | Continue to enforce the condominium conversion Ordinance. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.5.c Development in Flood Zones | Provide information and assist homeowners | Provide up-to-date information affecting housing development located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) as identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Assist property owners to understand FEMA compliance requirements for housing located in flood zones. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.6.a Provide Information on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs | At least 180 households participate in programs | Provide information on available energy efficiency, renewable energy, and decarbonization rebates, incentives, loans, and program, highlighting any programs that serve and/or provide deeper discounts for low-income households. Specific actions include:
a. Coordinate with the County of Marin, the Marin Climate & Energy Partnership, BayRen, and utility providers to identify, fund, design, and publicize programs.
b. Utilize the Town’s website, newsletter, social media, and counter handouts to provide information on alternative energy technologies for residential developers, contractors, and property owners. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-1.5.a Neighborhood Relations | Zoning Ordinance amendments | Encourage positive relations between neighborhoods and providers of emergency shelters, transitional and supportive housing, and residential care facilities. Providers or sponsors of emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and community care facilities will be encouraged to establish outreach programs with their neighborhoods. The following actions will be taken:
a. A staff person from the provider agency will be designated as a contact person (with a posted phone number) with the community to respond to questions or comments from the neighborhood.
b. Neighbors of emergency shelters, transitional and supportive housing programs, and community care facilities should be encouraged to provide a neighborly and hospitable environment for such facilities and their residents.
Status: Not started. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-1.8.a Family Housing Amenities | Family amenities in housing developments | As part of the design review permitting process, and as part of approving affordable housing agreements associated with the Town’s inclusionary housing ordinance, require adequate provisions for families with children, including consideration of amenities such as play yards and childcare.
Status: Not started. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.4.a Employee Housing | 2 units of employee housing | As part of the development review process for larger commercial projects, encourage developers to provide employee housing on-site.
Status: Dependent on developer interest. No applications submitted in 2023. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.11.b Affordability Management | Affordability maintained | Continue to implement the agreement with the Marin Housing Authority (MHA), or other qualified entity, for management of the affordable housing stock in order to ensure permanent affordability, and implement resale and rental regulations for low and moderate income units and assure that these units remain at an affordable price level. Modify the agreement to require MHA to conduct targeted marking for underrepresented populations and communities of color whenever affordable units become available for sale or rent. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Policy H-2.12.a Affordable Housing Ordinance | Develop 141 affordable housing units in market-rate developments. | Continue to implement the Affordable Housing Ordinance to achieve more balanced and integrated housing developments and neighborhoods. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-1.5.b The Casa Buena Permanent Supportive Housing | Annual community meetings and outreach | Work with Homeward Bound of Marin to support the success of The Casa Buena in providing permanent supportive housing.
a. Facilitate direct contact between neighbors, community members, and Homeward Bound of Marin in order to allow for direct information sharing, relationship building, and timely resolution of issues.
b. Facilitate community meetings and provide information to the community through Town communication platforms annually to keep members of community informed and to listen to concerns or issues that may arise.
c. Support town-wide volunteer and donation efforts.
Status: Not started. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.11.a Affordability Controls | Recorded deed restrictions | Require deed restrictions to maintain affordability as a condition of approval for affordable housing units. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.4.a “At Risk” Units | Preservation of rental units | Continue to fund the Marin Housing Authority’s program, or other qualified entity’s program, to monitor at risk affordable units. Continue to work with the Marin Housing Authority, or other qualified entity, to identify assisted properties at risk of conversion to market rates and work with the property owners and/or other parties to ensure that they are conserved as part of the Town’s affordable housing stock. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-1.6.b Visitability Ordinance | Analysis and consideration of possible visitability ordinance by 2025 | Explore opportunities and potential challenges associated with implementing a visitability ordinance to expand the housing typologies, including single-family homes, that would be required to be made adaptable for disabled residents and visitors. Conduct a study session with the Planning Commission and Town Council and prepare an ordinance adoption as directed by the Town Council.
Status: Not started. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-1.2.a Anti-Discrimination Ordinance | Post information and assure effective implementation and enforcement of anti-discrimination policies. | The Town will continue to enforce its Anti-Discrimination Ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on the source of a person’s income or the use of rental subsidies, including Section 8 and other rental programs. Amend the ordinance to include protections for prospective tenants. The Town will also require non-discrimination clauses in affordable housing agreements for deed restricted units.
Status: Not started. | On-going | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |