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-1.2.3-Work with Housing Developers (Non-Profit and For-Profit) on Housing | Outreach and involvement of non-profit and for-profit housing developers | The City works with both non-profit and for-profit developers regarding development opportunities to create more housing units. The Planning Commission approved a 100 affordable unit mixed-use project on March 22, 2022, and a 40 unit affordable housing project on June 27, 2023. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-4.1.1-Work with Housing Rights, Inc. | Resolution of conflicts and disputes between landlords and tenants, and elimination of all forms of housing discrimination. | The City continues to help renters to have access to fair housing through the Residential Health and Safety Program. The City offered a COVID rent and mortgage payment grant program to help low-income residents with their housing costs due to COVID impacts. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.2.2-Implement the Motor Vehicle Abatement Program | 650 abandoned vehicles tagged per year. | The City's Code Enforcement and Police Department implement this program on an ongoing basis. For 2023, 300 abandoned vehicles were tagged and 521 vehicles were removed. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.3.1-Inventory Potential Historically Significant Buildings | Mitigate potential impacts on historically significant buildings. | Inventory listed in the City's General Plan and updated as needed. Potential impacts monitored. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.1.3-Provide Technical Assistance and Counseling for Rehabilitation Loans | Provision of technical assistance and referrals | Information on programs through Contra Costa County is provided to the public and through the City's Residential Health and Safety program, as available. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.2.5-Reduce Parking Requirements Along San Pablo Avenue Near Transit | Parking incentives for new residential development in support of the General Plan 2030. | Reduced parking requirements are adopted as part of the Plaza San Pablo mixed use regulating code and have been applied throughout the development area. No parking is required for new accessory dwelling units within 1/2 half mile of a bus stop pursuant to recently adopted state law on accessory dwelling units and affordable housing. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-5.1.2-Promote Solar Energy and Other Methods to Efficiently Heat and Cool Homes | Implementation of energy conservation measures. | The City continues to promote these programs. San Pablo has also fully adopted the CA Green Energy Building Code and implements it for all development applications. The San Pablo Building Division works with customers to facilitate approval of solar permits regularly. The City uses SolarAPP to expedite solar panel approvals. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-5.1.1-Promote Home Weatherization Programs | Implementation of energy conservation measures. | The City promotes these programs in coordination with Contra Costa County. San Pablo has also fully adopted the CA Green Energy Building Code and implements it for all development applications. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-5.1.3-Require Energy Efficient Design | Implementation of energy conservation measures. | The City continues to require energy efficient design. San Pablo has also fully adopted the CA Green Energy Building Code and implements it for all development applications. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H.3.2.4-Facilitate Lot Consolidation | Creation of lot consolidation opportunities and increased housing development in support of the General Plan 2030. | The City continues to investigate opportunities to consolidate lots to increase housing development. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-4.2.4-Apply Accessibility Standards | Expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities. | The City continues to endeavor to expand housing opportunities for persons with disabilities. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.3.2-Preserve Archaeologically Significant Sites | Preservation of significant archaeological sites. | Significant archeological sites continue to be protected and preserved and CEQA guidelines are followed for all new development. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.1.6-Facilitate Affordable Rental and Cooperative Family Housing Opportunities | Provision of affordable housing with support services. | The City of San Pablo supports renters by administrating the Residential Health and Safety Program and providing information to customers regarding support services. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-5.1.6-Promote Water Conservation | Implementation of water conservation measures | The City of San Pablo adopted a Water Efficiency Local Ordinance which provides guidelines for water conservation. The Planning Division submits annual MWELO reports to the California Department of Water Resources. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-1.3.3-Conduct Neighborhood Meetings | Early community involvement and discussion when housing developments are proposed. | Community Development staff works on community involvement outreach efforts as developments are proposed. Planning Commission Public Hearings are held monthly. New multifamily housing development is generally required to have a public hearing for Major Design Review. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-3.2.3-Maintain an Inventory of Available Sites for Housing. | Listing of potential sites for housing. | The City continues to maintain an inventory of available sites for housing as identified in Appendix A of the 2015-2023 City of San Pablo Housing Element. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.5.1-Coordinate Building Plans with the Police Department | Police Department review of development proposals. | Major development plans and land use applications are routed to the Police Department for review and comment. | Ongoing | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-2.2.6-Assist Contra Costa County with Implementing Home Repair Programs | Repairs to 20 lower income homes. | Assistance provided to Contra Costa County as needed. The Program is administered by Contra Costa County. City of San Pablo provides resources at public counters and on the website. | 2015-2023 | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-4.1.2-Publicize Fair Housing Laws and Respond to Discrimination Complaints | Obtain and distribute materials; discrimination complaints referrals. | The City continues to provide referrals to organizations and non-profits such as Bay Area Legal Aid to help residents with housing and legal complaints. | Ongoig. | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |
| 2023 | Program H-4.2.3-Implement Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance | Update as part of the Zoning Ordinance Update. | Section 17.18.100, Reasonable Accommodation, was adopted as part of the Zoning Ordinance update in May 2015. | In 2015 | 6th cycle, 2023 to 2031 |