Big news! We’ve added new housing program data - check them out under “Housing Programs” on each city page.
Housing programs are the strategies 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 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 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.
Use the below data to explore this jurisdiction’s approaches to affirmatively furthering fair housing for the 6th element cycle, and review the actions, deliverables, and deadlines committed to for each program.
PROGRAM NUMBER | ACTIONS | DELIVERABLE | DELIVERABLE DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| H1 | Develop and maintain a web-based sites inventory that is updated regularly to identify sites suitable for housing development and to track remaining capacity needed to meet the RHNA in compliance with no-net-loss requirements to maintain adequate capacity for housing throughout the planning period. | Objective: Maintain adequate capacity to meet the RHNA. | Timeframe: Develop a web-based inventory in 2023 and update as projects are approved. |
| H2 | As of the start of the planning period (January 31, 2023), the City has an unmet RHNA of 1,535 lower-income and 3,280 above moderate-income units. The City shall approve a specific plan for the Moffett Park area to accommodate the City’s RHNA shortfall by January 31, 2024, and shall ensure that sites rezoned to meet the City’s unmet lower-income RHNA meet the following criteria: Permit owner-occupied and rental multifamily uses by right pursuant to Government Code section 65583.2(i) for developments in which 20 percent or more of the units are affordable to lower income households. Accommodate at least 50 percent of the lower-income RHNA shortfall on parcels designated exclusively for residential uses. Allow for densities of at least 30 dwelling units per acre, with a minimum density of 20 dwelling units per acre. Have existing or planned water, sewer, and dry utilities. | Rezone sufficient land to accommodate the RHNA shortfall of 1,535 lower-income units and 3,280 above moderate-income units. | Complete rezone before January 31, 2024 |
| H3 | . Implement zoning modifications to create additional capacity for high density residential in areas of high resource, such as the Village Centers and other high opportunity sites in the central and southern parts of the city, to create more opportunities for affordable housing in areas of high resource and ensure that lower-income housing is dispersed throughout the city. The City shall increase capacity in the lower-income sites inventory by increasing the allowed density in Village Centers to a minimum of 30 units per acre and designating additional non-residential sites in Southern Sunnyvale as residential sites with a minimum allowed density of 30 units per acres, which may or may not be designated as formal Village Centers. Create new mixed-use Village Center zoning designation to ensure consistency with General Plan land use designation | Rezone sites and/or increase allowed densities to increase capacity in the Sixth Cycle Housing Element lower-income sites inventory by at least 750 lower-income units in high and highest resource areas to increase housing mobility opportunities for lower-income households. Policy(ies) Implements: H-1.3 | : Complete rezone by December 2026 |
| H4 | Facilitate the construction of new accessory dwelling units (ADUs) through the following actions: Amending the ordinance to comply with state law, and annually reviewing the ADU ordinance and making amendments as necessary to maintain compliance with State legislative changes. Establishing and publicizing ADU resources, including an ADU toolkit and other web-based materials. ADU resources may be created in collaboration with nearby jurisdictions and may include: pre-approved design plans; loan programs and/or partnerships with local lenders to provide funding for accessory dwelling unit construction; and technical assistance, including assistance with cost/benefit analyses through a web-based cost calculator. The ADU toolkit will provide additional technical assistance including design standards, permit processes, and application resources. Promoting tools and resources to homeowners throughout the city to increase the production of ADUs and dual urban opportunity housing (DUOs) to promote mixed-income neighborhoods in areas of high resource, specifically south of the El Camino Real corridor. Promotion will include workshops, utility billing inserts, City newsletter articles, easy to use website features and more. Monitoring the production and affordability of ADUs every two years and the progress made according to the assumptions in the inventory. Take alternative actions within six months (e.g., additional incentives) if not meeting the assumptions in the sites inventory. | Target the production of at least 80 ADUs annually and a total of 640 ADUs and/or DUOs during the planning period. | : Amend ADU Ordinance for consistency with State law by July 2023. |
| H5 | Continue to implement the BMR Program citywide. Complete a feasibility study to determine if an increase to the BMR percentage for rental and ownership projects can be supported. Review and refine the BMR program code requirements and amend the Guidelines periodically as needed to accommodate changing market conditions and improve overall program effectiveness. Expand outreach opportunities, education, and visibility of the BMR program as needed to ensure success and fairness for all that are interested. | Target the production of 1,250 very low-, 1,250 low-, and 500 moderate-income units. | : Implementation of BMR program is ongoing. Conduct a feasibility study to analyze potential increases in the BMR percentage requirement for affordable housing by July 2024. |
| H6 | In addition to local funding, City staff shall provide direct staff assistance for 100 percent affordable housing developments throughout the predevelopment, entitlement, and development process. City staff will provide the following assistance to ensure projects are efficiently reviewed and meet all local and federal development timelines: Regular meetings with affordable housing developers to plan and coordinate entitlements, permits, financing, legal documents, and other project requirements as needed; Technical assistance and support for state and federal funding applications, such as the Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities grant, Infrastructure Infill Grant, and Multifamily Housing Program; and Support with entitlement and permitting processes and procedures. | Provide technical assistance for the development of 2,500 new deed-restricted lower-income units. Target production of 500 lower-income units in high resource areas. | Ongoing as projects are proposed |
| H7 | Continue to collect housing mitigation fees from nonresidential developments to offset the demand they generate for affordable workforce housing. Annually monitor availability of State and federal funding and partner with affordable housing developers, if necessary, in applying for additional funds. Prioritize sites in high opportunity areas and in communities that are underserved by existing affordable units. Issue notices of funding availability every other year, with advance outreach to potential applicants. | Provide $60 million in local and federal housing funding throughout the planning period for the development of 2,500 lower-income units. Target production of 500 lower-income units in high resource areas. Evaluate progress in 2027 to determine if additional actions are needed to achieve funding target. | Ongoing with biennial notices of funding availability. Mid-cycle progress check in 2027. |
| H8 | Evaluate new mechanisms for funding affordable housing for lower-income households, including but not limited to: real estate transfer tax, business tax for housing, short-term rental taxes or fees, and/or enhanced infrastructure financing districts. Identify partnerships that leverage funds for a range of projects, to provide increased certainty to the City’s affordable housing pipeline. Partnerships can include: the County of Santa Clara, local Housing Authorities, private employers, Housing Trust of Silicon Valley, philanthropic agencies, and private developers. Select the most viable to implement in the planning period and make recommendations with a focus on how to help achieve fair housing goals through use of additional allocated funds using an equity lens. | Implement new funding mechanisms to support the development of 2,500 lower-income units by 2024 and continuously develop relationships with partner agencies to leverage additional funding, securing over $100 million for new very low- and low-income units by 2027 | Implement new funding mechanisms by 2024 and continuously develop relationships with partner agencies to leverage additional funding by 2027 |
| H9 | Continue to implement the First-Time Home Buyer Program and aim to assist 5-10 low to moderate income homebuyers per year, or as demand warrants. Collaborate with non-profit organizations to promote the program to non-English speaking community members and communities of color that have historically been excluded from homeownership opportunities by discriminatory lending practices. Seek new funding opportunities for an additional loan program for workforce-income households (up to 150 percent area median income) using new federal, state, and local funding sources such as Permanent Local Housing Allocation. | Assist 5-10 low- to moderate-income homebuyers per year. Consider workforce-income loan program by 2025 and assist 5 workforce-income households. | Ongoing |
| H10 | Support the Housing Authority in its efforts to maintain adequate federal funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program and continue to refer extremely low- and very low-income residents to the Housing Authority for information about Section 8 assistance and other Housing Authority-provided affordable housing opportunities. Provide outreach and education to tenants and landlords/property management regarding the prohibition of housing discrimination based on source of income, including public subsidies. Prioritize outreach in high resource areas, as well as for new developments that have included density bonus provisions to aid accessibility by income qualified residents. | Increase Housing Choice Voucher usage in highest or high resource areas by 5 percent. | 2026 |
| H11 | Continue to operate and expand the Home Improvement Program to assist lower-income households with funding for rehabilitation and minor improvements. Promote the program on the City’s website, at City facilities, at community workshops, and through the Neighborhood Preservation Program, providing targeted outreach to neighborhoods in the City with the greatest need for housing rehabilitation, poorest housing conditions, and highest number of code violations. Expand the program to assist an additional 10 households per year for a total of 20-35 households per year or as demand warrants. | Expand program to assist 20-35 homeowners per year with housing home improvements to help prevent displacement of at-risk households. | Conduct no less than one workshop annually starting in 2023, targeting neighborhoods with the greatest need for housing rehabilitation. Expansion of program by 2024. |
| H12 | Assist in the acquisition and/or preservation of affordable multifamily rental properties. Continue to offer below-market rate financing for rehabilitation of affordable rental units, using funding sources available to the City for this purpose. | Provide rehabilitation financing for at least one property during the planning period. | Ongoing |
| H13 | Strive to preserve the 46 existing affordable housing units in the City’s Below Market Rate program that are at risk of expiration through the following actions: Continue to negotiate affordability term extensions with property owners and/or property management for existing Below Market Rate units nearing expiration. Extend Below Market Rate affordability terms by providing City funding to fill the gap between affordable rents and market rate rents. Track Below Market Rate affordability agreements for existing units and maintain close contact with the property owner regarding long-term plans for the affordable units at the property. Provide financial and/or technical assistance to property owners whose Below Market Rate affordability restrictions will expire within 36 months for preservation and/or rehabilitation of the affordable units. Coordinate with qualified entities on the potential acquisition of at-risk Below Market Rate units and continue to offer below-market rate financing for rehabilitation of affordable rental units, using funding sources available to the City for this purpose. Continue to require Below Market Rate projects to provide at least three years notice prior to the conversion of any deed-restricted affordable rental units to market rate and providing additional notice at 12 and 6 months. The City shall also minimize displacement of current Below Market Rate tenants by negotiating an anti-displacement policy or relocation mitigation with the owner, whenever possible. | Preserve and maintain long-term affordability for 46 at-risk Below Market Rate units and minimize displacement of residents in deed-restricted Below Market Rate housing. | Ongoing, as affordability restrictions expire |
| H14 | Continue to implement current mobile home park protections, including the Sunnyvale Mobile Home Park Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and maintain mobile home park zoning. Maintain an MOU compliance committee to annually enforce rent regulations and provide resident assistance. In the event of a closure of a mobile home park, enforce the provisions of Chapter 19.72, Mobile Home Park Conversions, which requires relocation assistance to be provided to park residents. | Preservation of 3,862 mobile homes | Annually monitor rent adjustments based on inflation, provide resident assistance on an ongoing basis. |
| H15 | Provide continuous information about available foreclosure counseling services, warnings about foreclosure-related scams, and available legal resources on the City’s website. Provide biannual social media campaigns using the City’s public outreach channels (website, Housing newsletter, media releases, City blog, etc.) to educate residents. Continue to refer any homeowners in default to the services available. Provide materials in multiple languages and work with community-based organizations to distribute materials to residents most at-risk of foreclosure. | Provide foreclosure assistance to 10 homeowners throughout the planning period. | Biannual social media campaigns starting in 2023 |
| H16 | Complete the Retooling project and update the Zoning Code to provide clarity of processing and permitting procedures for the community. | Accelerate housing production by adopting a comprehensive zoning code update. | 2026 |
| H17 | Implement a program to address the commercial requirement for 100 percent affordable housing developments in the El Camino Real Specific Plan (ECRSP) on sites zoned for mixed-use by providing a range of options including condominium style ownership to enable separate retail and housing ownership for vertical mixed use, horizontal mixed use options (retail in a separate building from the residential development) with or without a lot split, or a reduction in the minimum commercial requirement. | Remove constraints to 100% affordable housing developments in high resource areas along El Camino Real to facilitate a minimum of two 100% affordable developments. Continue to require inclusionary units within market rate developments as well. | Establish program for 100% affordable developments by December 2023 |
| H18 | Collaborate with developers and other stakeholders to review and modify usable open space requirements, including private usable open space requirements, in higher density residential areas (R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 zoning districts) to reduce constraints on housing development, while balancing community desires for high quality design and access to open space. The City shall review open space requirements in conjunction with implementation of Program 21 to adopt open space requirements that facilitate missing middle housing. Continue to implement significantly lower usable open space requirements in very high density specific plan areas. The City shall annually monitor open space requirements to determine whether or not they are a constraint to housing production and report findings in the annual progress report (APR). The City shall conduct a midcycle review of open space requirements and if determined to be a constraint, shall take action within six months to mitigate the constraint. | Reduce potential constraints on residential development by reviewing and modifying the City’s usable open space requirements in R-4 and R-5 zoning districts to maintain access to high quality open space while reducing the financial impact to residential development. | Complete review and modifications no later than 2026. Annually monitor open space requirements and report findings in the APR. Conduct a midcycle review of open space requirements in 2028 and if determined to be a constraint, take action within six months to further reduce open space requirements. |
| H19 | Establish reduced Park Dedication In-lieu fees for Dual Urban Opportunity (DUO) lot splits to remove barriers to infill housing in single-family neighborhoods. Reduced fees for DUO lots splits will be below the cost of land acquisition. Pursuant to public comments, reduce park dedication inlieu fees on missing middle housing (as described in Program H21) to be no greater than $60,000 per unit. Continue to exempt affordable rental units from the Park Dedication requirements (including In-lieu fees) and adopt fee reductions and/or exemptions for housing that serves other special needs populations (e.g., senior housing, single room occupancy [SRO] units) so that park dedication fees are no greater than $35,000 per unit for SROs and efficiency units. Continue to evaluate the Park Dedication requirements (including In-lieu fees) based on new demographic information and make adjustments to fees to mitigate constraints, particularly on multifamily housing. Adopt a tiered approach based on density and/or size of unit to reduce park dedication in-lieu fees on multifamily units, targeting an average reduction of about 30 percent. Continue to ensure that all Park Dedication in-lieu fees do not exceed the cost of unentitled land acquisition. The City shall annually monitor the fees to determine whether or not fees are a constraint to housing production and report findings in the annual progress report (APR). The City shall conduct a midcycle review of fees and if determined to be a constraint, shall take action within six months to mitigate the constraint. | Affirmatively further fair housing in single family neighborhoods by reducing Park Dedication In-lieu fees for Dual Urban Opportunity lot split projects and reduce constraints on multifamily and special needs housing. | Establish reduced fees in 2024. Annually monitor fees and report findings in the APR. Conduct a midcycle review of fees in 2027 and if determined to be a constraint, take action within six months to mitigate constraint. |
| H20 | Establish a new, non-discretionary permit type for housing development projects. This new permit type will simplify the permitting processes by creating one permit type for all housing development projects regardless of underlying zoning. The Plan Review Permit process will involve Planning Commission review and approval for consistency with objective development and design standards. | Create new residential permit type to remove constraints on housing development and implement objective thresholds of approval. | Establish new permit type by 2024 |