Government Code (GC) Section 65583(a)(3) requires local governments to prepare an inventory of land suitable for residential development, including vacant sites and sites having the potential for redevelopment, and an analysis of the relationship of zoning and public facilities and services to these sites. That inventory must identify specific sites or parcels that are available for residential development. Pursuant to SB 6 (Chapter 667, Statutes of 2019), for a housing element or amendment adopted on or after January 1, 2021, the planning agency shall submit to HCD an electronic copy of its inventory of these parcels using standards, forms, and definitions adopted by HCD.
HCD submits sites inventory data to DGS for inclusion in a statewide map. Learn more about these development opportunities.
For further information, see the Housing and Local Land Development Opportunities Map Webinar (February 24, 2023) and presentation slides (PDF).
Questions can be submitted to sitesinventory@hcd.ca.gov.
Submit Online - HCD Connect
Jurisdictions now have the option to upload a sites inventory directly into HCD’s new portal, HCD Connect. HCD Connect is a data management system that allows jurisdictions to submit Housing Elements, Sites Inventories and Annual Progress Reports on one platform.
To use the online system, you must register with the link above to create a new account. If you are experiencing issues creating or logging into your jurisdiction’s account, please review the HCD Connect User Portal Guides or email HCDConnectHPD@hcd.ca.gov.
Every Five Years vs. Every Eight Years
To strengthen the connection between housing and transportation planning, SB 375 made changes to better align the schedules for regional housing needs assessments and local government housing element updates with schedules for adopting regional transportation plans (RTPs). The transportation planning requirements included in Government Code Section 65080 apply to 18 federally designated metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in California covering 37 counties and representing approximately 98 percent of the statewide population. MPO schedules to adopt RTPs that determine regional housing needs assessments and housing element due dates are differentiated as follows:
MPOs:
- Non-Attainment Designation: “Non-attainment” MPOs adopt RTPs every four years. Regional housing needs assessments and housing element schedules must be coordinated with every other RTP, requiring housing elements be updated every eight years and no later than 18 months after RTP adoption.
- Attainment Designation: “Attainment” MPOs adopt RTPs every five years. SB 375 did not link or change regional housing needs assessment and housing element update schedules based on RTP adoption date. Housing elements are required to be updated every five years and adopted by the due date specified in statute. However, attainment MPOs or regional transportation planning agencies may elect, to update RTPs on a four-year schedule that would change the housing element schedule from five to eight years.
However, the local government must:
- Have submitted a draft housing element to HCD;
- HCD must have issued findings; and
- The local government must have considered the findings prior to adoption of the housing element.