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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Respond to Complaints - H-1.1.3.2 | to promote equal housing opportunities for all persons | on-going | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2021 | Modify second unit development standards and permit process | To facilitate ADU production and comply with State Law | The Town has modified its ADU regualations and permit processing to streamline ADU processing and comply with State law. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2021 | Create more developable properties for additional housing units | to provide more affordable housing | Town has adopted urgency SB 9 Ordinance and is in the process of adopting a permanent Ordinance | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2021 | Disseminate information on Fairfax Housing | Distribute and display fair-housing information | Town is continuing to develop an extensive mailing list of stakeholders and special interest groups and individuals that it will use to publicize the public involvement necessary to eventually develop a program to disseminate fair housing information. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2021 | Facilitate creation of low income housing including Live/Work and waiving penalties for legalization of existing accessory dwelling unit H-4.1.1.2 | To provide additionial affordable housing | Town approved a Live/work project that includes 12 live work units at School Street Plaza and has issued and finaled 3 building permits for those units, and Town continues to waive penalties for legalization of existing accessory dwelling units | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2021 | Revise Ordinances to eliminate the requirements for fire suppression systems I ADU's H-6.1.1.1 | To encourage the creation of affordale rental units | Town has eliminated the requirement for fire suppression systems in ADU's that are created within existing strucrures and has continued the elimination of this requirement in all subsequest ADU Ordinance updates to comply with State regulations | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2021 | Assist in the effective use of rental assistance programs | make full iuse of available rental assistance programs | Continue to work with Marin Housing Authority of the County of Marin to provide section 8 housing opportunities to Fairfax residents | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Revise Ordinances to eliminate the requirements for fire suppression systems in ADU's H-6.1.1.1 | To encourage the creation of affordable rental units | Town has eliminated the requirement for fire suppression systems in ADU's that are created within existing structures. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Review and Update Parking Standards H-4.1.1.5 | alow more housing without requiring parking or with relaxed parking standards | The prohibition of parking in side yard setback has been eliminated for ADU's and requiring an on site parking space for all ADU's has been amdned to only requiring an on-site parking space for ADU's more than 1/2 mile walking distance from a bus stop. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Assist in the effective use of rental assistance programs | make full use of available rental assistance programs | Continue to work with the Housing Authority of the County of Marin to provide section 8 housing opportunities to fairfax residents | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Disseminate Information on Fair Housing | Distribute and display fair-housing information | Town is continuing to develop an extensive mailing list of stakeholders and special interest groups and individuals that it will use to publicize the public involvement necessary to eventually develop a program to disseminate fair housing information. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Facilitiate creation of low income housing including Live/Work and waiving penalties for legalization of existing accessory dwelling units H-4/1/1/2 | To provide additional affordable housing | Town has approved a Live/Work project that includes 12 live work units at School Street Plaza, a local commercial center, and continues to waive pentaties for legalization of existing Accessory Dwelling Units | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Adopt an Anti-Discrimination Ordinance H-1.1.3.1 | to eliminate descrimination in housing opportunities | As a precurser to adopting an ordinance Town adopted Resolution No 20-39 Opposing Hateful Acts and All Manifistations of White Supremacy, Racism and Bigotry and has established a Racial Equitey and Social Justice Committee by adopting Resolution No. 20-29 | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Modify second unit develoment standards and permit process | To facilitate ADU production and comply with State Law | The Town has modified its ADU regulations and permit processing to streamline ADU processing and comply with State law. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | Senior and Workforce Housing H-2.2.2 | housing opportunities for Town residents with special needs, including seniors. | 53 low income senior housing units built | Completed | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2019 | Accessory Dwelling Units | H-6.1: At least 27 units of well designed, legal, ADU's in all residential neighborhoods applying reasonable parking and street capacity standards. | 16 very low and low income ADU units issued building permits in 2017 and 18. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2019 | Housing programs for Special Needs groups | H-2.1 | 6 very low and 47 low income senior units ar under construction. All 53 of the Victory Village units have Section 8 Project-Based vouchers from the Marin County Housing Authority. | under construction | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2019 | ADU/JADU URGENCY ORD | H-6.1: At least 27 units of well designed, legal, ADU's in all residential neighborhoods applying reasonable parking and street capacity standards; Program H-6.1.2.2 - Allow ADU's in new development; Program 7-6.1.2.4 - low permit fees for ADU'S/JADU'S; | ADOPTED ORD. # 843 - REGULATIONS TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW RE: ADU'S AND JADU'S, LOWERED PERMIT PROCESSING TIME AND FEES | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |