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)

HOUSING ELEMENTS AND THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATION

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 PLANS & REPORTS

FEDERAL PLANS & REPORTS

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