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 | Interjuristictional planning | Collaborate in Inter-Jurisdictional Planning for Housing. | Completed Objective Design Standards project and ADU toolkit is in progress | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | Incentivize Deed Restricted Units | Relax development standards to encourage construction of affordable units | Ongoing. FAR Bonus approved in 2011; relaxed standards by ordinance in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013; greated ADU standard exception by ordinance in 2020. | 2011-06-01 00:00:00 | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2022 | High Potential Sites | Develop higher densities in potential development sites | Ongoing | June 2014 Target | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2019 | See Attachment | See Attachment | See Attachment | See Attachment | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | e. | Advise owners of Marin Municipal Water District’s fee reduction program for deed-restricted low income second units. | Ongoing | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | a. | Seek funding through local, state and federal programs and community foundations. | No funding sought for unit development. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | b. | Consider implementation of an affordable housing impact fee to provide a portion of the project’s funding. Any proposed affordable housing impact fee must take into consideration the burden of total building and planning permit fees on potential development. | No impact fee established. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | H4.A | Assure Good Neighborhood Relations Involving Emergency Shelters, Residential Care and Other Special Needs Facilities. Encourage positive relations between neighborhoods and providers of emergency shelters, supportive and transitional housing, residential care facilities and other special needs facilities. Providers and sponsors of emergency shelters, transitional housing programs and community care facilities will be encouraged to establish outreach programs with their neighborhoods. | No applications were received in the current cycle. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | H4.B | Engage in Countywide Efforts to Address Homeless Needs. Actively engage with other jurisdictions in Marin to provide additional housing and other options for the homeless, supporting and implementing Continuum of Care actions in response to the needs of homeless families and individuals. Participate and allocate funds, as appropriate, for County and non-profit programs providing emergency shelter and related counseling services, including Homeward Bound of Marin. | Continuous program. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | H1.A | Prepare Information and Conduct Outreach on Housing Issues. Coordinate with local businesses, housing advocacy groups and neighborhood groups in building public understanding and support for workforce and special needs housing. Through written materials and public presentations, inform residents of housing needs, issues, and programs (second units, rental assistance, rental mediation, rehabilitation loans, etc.). | Due to limited staff resources (one planning department employee), the Town has not conducted any special public presentations on housing issues. Town staff informs residents of housing programs, such as the second unit program (AKA Accessory Dwelling Unit) as opportunities arise. The Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations per Chapter 18.42 of the Ross Municipal Code, are also provided on the Town's website. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | a. | Provide flexibility in applying development standards (e.g., parking, floor area, setback, height), subject to the type of housing, size and unit mix, location and overall design. | Few affordable housing projects have been proposed. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | H2.B | Enforce Zoning and Building Codes. The Town will continue to enforce the current zoning code in residential neighborhoods and will discourage demolitions without rebuilding and overbuilding on lots through the design review process. The Town will continue to implement the hillside ordinance (Chapter 18.39 of the Ross Zoning Code) in facilitating the orderly development of hillside lots. The Town will also continue to require homes to comply with the Building Code through implementation of the Residential Building Record Report program. | Currently implementing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | b. | Provide fast-track processing and ensure that affordable housing developments receive the highest priority. Efforts will be made by the Town’s staff and Council to: 1. provide technical assistance to potential affordable housing developers in processing requirements, including community involvement; 2. consider project funding and timing needs in the processing and review of the application; and 3. provide the fastest turnaround time possible in determining application completeness. | No fee waiver requests have been received. The average processing time for an accessory dwelling unit is 2-3 months. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | H4.D | Provide Information on Reasonable Accommodation. The Building Official, the Town’s ADA Coordinator, will manage Town compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IIA of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Direct questions, concerns, complaints, and requests regarding accessibility for people with disabilities to the Town’s ADA Coordinator. Provide information to the public regarding reasonable accommodations related to zoning, permit processing and building codes on the Town’s website and in Town application forms and other publications. | Under California Civil Code 55.53(d)(1-3) the Town is required to retain at least one building inspector who is a certified access specialist to consult with the Town, applicants and public on compliance with state construction-related accessibility standards with respect to inspections, permitting and plan check services of a place of public accommodation. Planning staff is available to provide information on reasonable accommodation. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | H1.B | Collaborate in Inter-Jurisdictional Planning for Housing. Work toward implementing, whenever possible, agreed-upon best practices, shared responsibilities and common regulations to efficiently and effectively respond to housing needs within a countywide framework. | Ongoing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | H2.C | Implement Rehabilitation Loan Programs. Provide handouts and refer people to the Marin Housing Authority for available loan programs to eligible owner-and renter-occupied housing. Require fire and code officials to hand out information on MHA loans to appropriate lower-income homeowners when performing routine inspections. Objective: Loans provided to rehabilitate housing for very low income households (3 new loans in total). | Currently implementing. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | c. | Provide information about the new second unit ordinance through ongoing communications, including Town meetings, email notices, the town newsletter, and the Town website, as well as through the local newspaper and the Ross Property Owners Association’s newsletter upon adoption of new ordinances. | Continuing program. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | c. | Maintain the units as affordable rental housing for low and very low income households, utilizing income eligibility requirements and affordability standards as published annually by HCD. | Units were not constructed. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | d. | Encourage second unit development through the advisory design review process and through Town publications and planning materials. | Continuing program. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |
| 2018 | c. | Determine affordability levels for very low income units using income levels established by HCD. | Determined annually when HCD releases income levels. | Ongoing | 5th cycle, 2013 to 2022 |