Division of Housing Policy Development
Mission Statement: The Division of Housing Policy Development administers, develops and advocates policies and laws to further housing and community development.
The Division of Housing Policy Development (HPD) accomplishes its mission by identifying California's housing needs and developing policies to meet those needs. HPD administers State housing element law, including the review of local general plan housing elements; prepares numerous state plans and reports and conducts research to facilitate housing development and improvement, and provides a wide range of technical assistance to local governments, public and private housing providers, business and industry groups, housing advocates and interested citizens. In addition, HPD prepares and implements the federal Consolidated Planning and Performance Reporting requirements for HUD, including the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, ensuring California's receipt of millions of federal housing and community development dollars.
Current Notices and Information Updates
Final Housing Element Update Guidance Released
The Housing Element Update Guidance is intended to assist local governments and stakeholders with streamlined updates and HCD review for fifth cycle housing elements. HCD recognizes all levels of governments and stakeholders are facing resource challenges and this guidance seeks to create efficiencies and clarity for all parties in the housing element update process. While all local governments are still required to complete a housing element update, the Update Guidance is designed to reduce the number and scope of housing element submittals per jurisdiction and to focus resources on providing assistance to jurisdictions to ensure compliance and effectively addressing housing needs.
Housing Element Update Guidance (complete packet) — (Adobe PDF)
- Introduction and Overview of Update Guidance and Streamlined Update Template — (Adobe PDF)
- Attachment 1 – Implementation Review – (Microsoft Word) or (Adobe PDF) - PDF is fillable
- Attachment 2 – Housing Element Completeness Checklist – (Microsoft Word) or (Adobe PDF) - PDF is fillable
- Attachment 3 – Housing Element Streamlined Update Template – (Microsoft Word) or (Adobe PDF) - PDF is fillable
- Attachment 4 – Housing Element Review Process and Timeframes — (Adobe PDF)
HOUSING ELEMENTS AND THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION
- Housing Elements and Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA)
- Housing Element Update Schedule
- Housing Elements Currently Under HCD Review
- Housing Element Review Letters
- Housing Element Review Status
HOUSING ELEMENT RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPERS
 |
Building Blocks for Effective Housing Elements – online technical resource to assist local governments in updating housing elements |
HCD Published Housing Element Technical Assistance Papers
| Technical Assistance Paper Description/Link | Publish Date | Applicable Statutory Citation | Statute |
| ** Coming Soon – SB 375 | HCD Memorandum - Alternative Adequate Sites Amendments AB 720, AB 1867 and AB 1103 amending the alternative adequate sites sections of State housing element law |
August 24, 2012 | GC § 65400(a)(2)(B); 65582(h) and (i); 65583(a)(8); and 65583.1(c)(1)-(4) |
AB 720(Ch. 467, Statutes of 2009) AB 1867(Ch. 367, Statutes of 2010) AB 1103(Ch. 210, Statutes of 2011) |
HCD Memorandum - SB 812 Analysis of special housing needs for persons with developmental disabilities |
June 21, 2012 | GC § 65583(a)(7) | SB 812 (Ch. 507, Statutes of 2010) | HCD Memorandum-Default Density Standard Option (2010 Census Update) | June 20, 2012 | GC § 65583.2(c)(3)(B) | N/A – see statutory reference for AB 2348 below. | HCD Memorandum - AB 162 Applicability of amendment to safety and conservation elements of General Plan to element updates |
September 16, 2009 | GC § 65302 | AB 162 (Ch. 369, Statutes of 2007) | HCD Memorandum – SB 2 Zoning for emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing |
May 7, 2008 Updated: April 19, 2013 |
GC § 65589.5 | SB2 (Ch. 633, Statutes of 2007) | HCD Memorandum - AB 1233 Rezoning deadlines applicable to jurisdictions failing to make sites available in prior planning period |
June 20, 2007 | GC § 65584.09 | AB 1233 (Ch. 614, Statutes of 2005) | HCD Memorandum - SB 1087 Water and sewer service priority for housing affordable to lower income households |
May 22, 2006 | GC § 65589.7 | SB 1087 (Ch. 633, Statutes of 2005) | HCD Memorandum - AB 2348 Inventory and suitability of sites/default densities |
June 9, 2005 | GC § 65583 | AB 2348 (Ch 724 Statutes of 2004) | HCD Memorandum - AB 1866 Second unit law and the creation of second units in meeting regional housing need |
August 6, 2003 | GC § 65852.2 and 65583.1 | AB 1866 (Ch. 1062, Statutes of 2002) | HCD Memorandum - SB 520 Analysis of constraints on development of housing for persons with disabilities |
June 17, 2002 | GC § 65583(a)(4) and 65583(c)(3) | SB 520 (Ch. 671, Statutes of 2001) |
| Note: The highlighted links above provide statutory language as of the date legislation was enacted. To access a current copy of State housing element law, please click here. | |||
HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT REGULATIONS (GC § 65400)
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65400 Housing Element Annual Reports for the prior calendar year are due APRIL 1st of the subsequent year. Report forms and instructions are available online here.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
- State of Housing in CA 2012
- State Income Limits
- Housing, Climate Change and SB 375 Resources
- Housing Strategies to Strengthen Communities — (Adobe PDF)
- Housing Elements: Tool to Create Vibrant, Livable Communities — (Adobe PDF)
- "Myths & Facts About Affordable and High Density Housing"
- California Infill Parcel Locator
- Inclusionary Housing Information
- Bibliographies on Housing Topics
- Housing Authorities List
- NIMBY Resources
- Preservation of Affordable Government Assisted Housing
- Fair Housing Resources (under construction)
STATE PLANS & REPORTS
- California Inter-Regional Partnership (IRP) Program Final Report (2005)
- The Future of Infill Housing: Opportunities, Potential, Feasibility and Demand (2005)
- Recommendations of the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness (2003)
- Raising the Roof - California Housing Development Projections and Constraints (2001)
- Pay to Play: Residential Development Fees in California Cities and Counties (1999)
- The State of California's Housing Markets 1990-1997 (1998)
- Housing: California's Foundation for Economic Growth
FEDERAL PLANS & REPORTS
- 2010-2015 Consolidated Plan
- Annual Plan, CAPER (updated annually)
- Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (September 2012)
HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION CONTACT LIST
Division of Housing Policy Development
California Department of Housing and Community Development
1800 3rd Street
P.O. Box 952053
Sacramento CA 94252-2053
(916) 445-4728
FAX (916) 327-2643
email: cahouse@hcd.ca.gov
| Name | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Lisa Bates – Deputy Director | (916) 323-3177 |
| Glen Campora – Assistant Deputy Director | (916) 445-4728 |
| Maggie Kauffman – Librarian | (916) 322-9648 |
| Natalie Famini – Administrative Assistant | (916) 324-8652 |
| Mario Angel - Analyst | (916) 445-3485 |
| Brett Arriaga - Analyst | (916) 445-5888 |
| Melinda Coy - Specialist | (916) 445-5307 |
| Anda Draghici – Specialist | (916) 327-2640 |
| Fidel Herrera - Analyst | (916) 445-5854 |
| Robin Huntley - Analyst | (916) 323-3175 |
| James Johnson - Analyst | (916) 323-7271 |
| Paul McDougall – Manager | (916) 322-7995 |
| Janet Myles - Analyst | (916) 445-7412 |
| Jess Negrete - Analyst | (916) 323-3185 |
| Jennifer Seeger – Manager | (916) 322-4263 |
| Barbara Sinnett - Analyst | (916) 327-9411 |
| Lindy Suggs - Analyst | (916) 327-2641 |
| Celia Yniguez - Analyst | (916) 327-6740 |