Policy and Program Options
The following are examples of successful policies, plans, and practices to identify barriers and promote fair housing:
October 2025
Opportunities for Energy Conservation
The energy conservation section of the housing element must inventory and analyze the opportunities to encourage the incorporation of energy-saving features, energy-saving materials, and energy-efficient systems and design for residential development. Planning to maximize energy efficiency and the incorporation of energy conservation and green-building features can contribute to reduced housing costs for homeowners and renters, in addition to promoting sustainable community design and reduced dependence on vehicles.
Identify Adequate Sites
Identify actions that will be taken to make sites available during the planning period of the general plan with appropriate zoning and development standards and with services and facilities to accommodate that portion of the city's or county's share of the regional housing need for each income level that could not be accommodated on sites identified in the inventory completed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) without rezoning, and to comply with the requirements of Section 65584.09.
Housing Accountability Unit Portal
Submit technical assistance requests and potential violations to HCD for review through the portal linked below.
Policy and Program Options
Strategies to Increase Residential Capacity
The following approaches have been used by localities to increase their total residential development capacity:
Program Requirements
(Last Updated: 12/09/16)
Technical Assistance and Enforcement Letters Dashboard
The Housing Accountability Unit issues letters to local agencies regarding the review of local ordinances, provision of technical assistance, and enforcement of various state housing laws. HCD makes these letters and actions available to the public via the Technical Assistance and Enforcement Letters Dashboard below. The dashboard contains all letters issued and has filters that can be used to search by jurisdiction, date, subject matter, and statutory reference.
Address and Remove (or Mitigate) Constraints
Address and, where appropriate and legally possible, remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing, including housing for all income levels and housing for persons with disabilities. The program shall remove constraints to, or provide reasonable accommodations for housing designed for, intended for occupancy by, or with supportive services for, persons with disabilities (Government Code Section 65583(c)(3)).
Program Requirements
For each policy, procedure, or requirement identified as a governmental constraint, the housing element must include programs to address and remove or mitigate the constraint.
Policy and Program Options
Communities have used the following strategies to address regulatory constraints:
HCD in Focus: Tackling Housing Affordability, Stability and Homelessness
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“HCD In Focus” is a news in review that highlights the impact of HCD administered programs on the lives of Californians.
Video highlights: HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez and BCSH Deputy Secretary of Homelessness Dhakshike Wichrema join Governor Gavin Newsom’s SAFE task force efforts in Los Angeles; HCD celebrates 60 years of housing leadership in California; Multiple grand openings and groundbreakings of affordable housing communities serving low-income families, veterans, seniors, natural disaster survivors and people exiting homelessness. Spotlights on resident Nakia of HCD-funded Homekey Harbor City and HCD team member Junius Barrie.
October 24, 2025
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfh_ZyvqDEo
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