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 | 5.2.1 Affordable Housing Allotment | Allot unused Measure B allocation to affordable projects | Ongoing as per Ordinance 02-003 Measure B Growth Implementation Plan | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 2.1.1 Condo Conversion Ordinance | Adopt ordinance | The City has not yet adopted a Condo Conversion Ordinance however it is being researched and it plans to have an ordinance in the coming years. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.1.2 Senior Housing Program | Assist developers with providing senior housing options | The City completed a 44 unit senior/special needs housing unit in 2017 and a 54 unit senior/special needs housing unit in 2016. In 2022, the city approved an affordable 72 apartment unit project for seniors. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 6.1.1 Regulatory Incentives and Financial Assistance | Assist average of 3 households annually thru 1st time homebuyer program | Ongoing, the city assisted in 1 loan in 2017. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 1.2.1 Code Enforcement | Continuing | Ongoing. The City maintains a full time code enforcement officer and a building inspector to manage all building code enforcement. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.1.1 Special Needs Incentives | Encourage development of special needs housing | The City completed a 44 unit senior/special needs housing unit in 2017 and a 54 unit senior/special needs housing unit in 2016. In 2022, the city approved an affordable 72 apartment unit project for seniors. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.1.7 Employee Housing Act | Amend zoning code to comply with Act | Family definition needs minor amendment. Agriculture zone district permits employee housing without limit on number. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.1.8 Special Need Housing | Provide assistance | Ongoing, The City approved Herritage Commons Phases 2 and 3, a 54-unit and 44 unit complex for the elderly. In 2022, the city approved an affordable 72 apartment unit project for seniors. | Annual | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 1.1.1 Housing Rehabilitation | Loans to 3-5 units to rehab annually, Advertise program | The City did not facilitate any loans for 2022. | Annual | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 2.2.1 Preservation of Units | Monitor status, provide technical support | The City continues to annually monitor the 65 at-risk units. | Annual | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 3.3.1 Housing Diversity | Prioritize Measure B allocations | Ongoing, to be applied as projects come before the City. | Annual | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 4.1.9 Density Bonus | Adopt ordinance | As per Chapter 18.20A, Density Bonus of the Dixon Municipal Code | Completed | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 6.2.1 Streamline processing | Help to streamline processing | Ongoing, as projects come in. | As projects come forward | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 5.3.1 Site rezoning program | Rezone site in SWDSP | Completed and Housing Element Certified, Ordinance 16-006 and Resolution 16-057 | Completed | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 6.1.2 Planning fee review | Periodic review and adjustment | New fees adopted in July 2022. | Biannual | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 5.3.2 Large Lot Subdivisions | Facilitate SWDSP project | As per Program 5.3.1 | When developed | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 6.3.1 Planned Development District | Use PD to provide flexibility | Ongoing | As projects come forward | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 5.6.1 Large Family Unit Development | Pursue subsidies for 2+ developments per year | Ongoing | Annual | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 5.4.2 Section 8 Assistance | Publicize Section 8 program | Ongoing | Annual | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | 3.1.1 Measure B Exemptions | Continuing, annually determine if units above cap should be granted | Suspended in 2023 due to SB330 | Suspended | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |