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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 18. Program - Recognize alternate structures as 2nd units | Evaluate existing guest houses, studios and other habitable structures to determine if they qualify as a 2nd unit | The Town reviews properties when a development proposal is submitted and encourages owners to consider building an ADU. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 19. Program - Affordable housing at Foothill College | Staff to meet annually with college administration and consider rezoning the college property to allow multi-family affordable housing for staff and students | Staff periodically meets with college administration. Rezoning process has not been initiated. Will consider rezoning during next HE update process. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 17. Program - Allow 1,200 sq.ft. 2nd units | Modify the zoning ordinance to allow for 1,200 sq.ft. 2nd units | ADUs up to 1,200 square feet are now permitted and code language is included in the new ADU ordinance adopted in September 2020. | 12/1/2016 - Completed 2020 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 12. Program - Informational brochures on 2nd units and review of incentives to encourage 2nd units | Provide up to date information on second units and consider amending Town policies and codes to encourage additional 2nd unit construction | Public information brochure completed. New ADU ordinance conforming to state law adopted in August 2020, and includes height and floor area incentives for certain types of ADUs. Staff continues to update the Town website. | Ongoing. Staff has prepared a brochure with information on the Town's website. | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 16. Program - Allow 2nd units on substandard parcels | Modify the zoning ordinance to allow for attached 2nd units on substandard parcels | ADUs are now permitted on all properties and code language is included in the new ADU ordinance adopted in September 2020. | 12/1/2016 - Completed 2020 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 15. Program - Amnesty Program | Develop and amnesty program to legalize undocumented 2nd units | Amnesty program language was developed and included in the new ADU ordinance adopted in September 2020. | 12/1/2016 - Completed 2020 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 13. Program - Reducing and waiving fees | Develop and adopt criteria for reducing or waiving permit, sewer and other fees for 2nd units | Pathway fees have been removed on ADUs under 900 square feet and on all ADUs until the RHNA affordable housing unit numbers are met for Cycle 5. Sewer fees have been reduced by 50% on all ADUs. | 12/1/2015 - Completed 2020 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 14. Program - Non-conforming parking | Allow the use of non-conforming parking areas to meet 2nd unit parking requirement | Changes to state law allow for reduced parking requirements for 2nd units. Zoning Code modified to reflect changes to state law and encourage use of existing nonconforming parking areas. City Council adopted new ADU ordinance in September 2020. | 12/1/2016 - Completed 2020 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2020 | 8. Program - California Employee Housing Act Compliance | Modify zoning ordinance to allow for on-site affordable housing for employees of institutional uses | Code language is being developed and will be presented to the Planning Commission in July 2022 and City Council in Fall 2022 with the update of the Housing Element | 12/1/2016 - Review in 2022 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |