Prohousing Designation Program
To apply, please submit the application and an authorized formal resolution to ProhousingPolicies@hcd.ca.gov.
Increasing the availability of housing statewide is critical to bettering the quality of life of all Californians and to ending homelessness. The 2019-2020 Budget Act provided a spectrum of support, incentives, and accountability measures to meet California’s housing goals, and provided for the establishment of the Prohousing Designation Program.
The Prohousing Designation Program (PDP) seeks to acknowledge and support jurisdictions that go above-and-beyond state housing law to help accelerate housing production. A jurisdiction with a Prohousing Designation may receive priority processing or funding points when applying for several funding programs, including Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC), Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG), Transformative Climate Communities (TCC), Solutions for Congested Corridors (SCCP), Local Partnership Program (LPP), Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), and Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program (STPG).
Receiving a Prohousing Designation also allows jurisdictions to apply to the Prohousing Incentive Program. PIP is designed to reward local governments with additional funding to accelerate affordable housing production and preservation.
Receive Updates
Sign up to receive a weekly listing of Prohousing Designation applications received by HCD by clicking this link HCD Email Signup and selecting the box labeled “Housing Planning and Policy.”
As of January 2, 2024, the permanent regulations for the Prohousing Designation Program are approved. All new PDP applications will need to be developed in accordance with the permanent regulations. Updated application materials and technical assistance related to the permanent regulations.
- OAL Certificate of Compliance (PDF)
- 2024 OAL Approved Permanent Regulations for the Prohousing Designation Program (PDF)
- Document Incorporated by Reference: U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness "7 Principles of Addressing Encampments" (PDF)
- Document Incorporated by Reference: California Water Board's State Policy for Water Quality Control: State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State (PDF)
Local governments with Prohousing Designation are eligible to apply for the Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP), a state investment from the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund:
Subsequent Notice of Funding Availabilities (NOFAs) for PIP are posted every August, with applications due every December, and Awards made every March.
Local governments that receive the Prohousing Designation can also receive priority processing or funding points when applying for several funding programs, including:
- Affordable Housing & Sustainable Communities (AHSC)
- Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG)
- Transformative Climate Communities (TCC)
- Solutions for Congested Corridors
- Local Partnership Program
- Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)
- Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program (STPG)
Other programs may be added to the list after HCD engages with stakeholders and partner agencies on adding Prohousing points to other housing and non-housing programs.
The Prohousing Designation Program application under the permanent regulations is now available.
Eligible applicants are limited to local governments (cities and counties). HCD will review applications within 60 days and provide feedback.
Application Details The Prohousing Designation application consists of 7 appendices:
- Appendix 1: Formal Resolution for the Prohousing Designation Program
- Appendix 2: Proposed Policy Completion Schedule
- Appendix 3: Self-Scoring Sheet and Sample Self-Scoring Sheet
- Appendix 4: Examples of Prohousing Policies with Enhancement Factors
- Appendix 5: Homeless Encampment Template
- Appendix 6: Diligent Public Participation Checklist
- Appendix 7: Additional Information and Supporting Documentation
There are also threshold requirements that include having a certified Housing Element, complying with applicable state housing law related to the Permit Streamlining Act and CEQA, and the “7-Principles of Homeless Encampments.”
A jurisdiction must also complete a Diligent Public Participation Process.
A jurisdiction should confirm that it meets threshold requirements and has conducted a Diligent Public Participation process before submitting an application for formal review and initiating the 60 day review period. A jurisdiction may provide a draft application for preliminary review that does not have thresholds or public participation completed. HCD will provide feedback on preliminary reviews if capacity allows. Following a preliminary review, applicants must submit a final application that has completed threshold requirements and a Diligent Public Participation Process.
Application Process
- Applications to the Prohousing Designation Program are accepted over-the-counter.
- Applications are received on a rolling basis
- HCD has 60 days to review and provide feedback to an application, as needed.
- HCD determinations of Prohousing Designations are released as applications receive approvals.
Annual Program Revisions
- Incorporate ongoing stakeholder and applicant feedback.
- Implement any housing law changes.
- Complete proposed policies and program implementation.
- Annual Notice of Funding Availability for the Prohousing Incentive Program each August.
- These applications are due each December.
- Awards made in March.
For review status of applications received, please view the Prohousing Designation Application Tracker (XLS).
As part of its review of the Prohousing Designation application, HCD must consider any written comments received from any public agency, group, or person. If an organization or individual plans to provide comments to HCD on a jurisdiction's Prohousing Designation application, early contact with the assigned review staff member is encouraged to ensure that HCD is aware of this intent. To ensure that HCD has sufficient time to consider comments in the review of the Prohousing Designation application, written comments should be provided within the first 30 days of the review. Written comments can be provided directly to the assigned HCD analyst or emailed to ProhousingPolicies@hcd.ca.gov.
As of May 1, 2025, the following jurisdictions have earned a Prohousing Designation:
- City of Alameda
- City of Berkeley
- City of Brea
- City of Citrus Heights
- City of Crescent City
- City of El Cerrito
- City of Emeryville
- City of Eureka
- City of Fairfield
- City of Fontana
- City of Fresno
- City of Healdsburg
- City of Long Beach
- City of Los Angeles
- County of Los Angeles
- City of Moreno Valley
- City of Mountain View
- City of Napa
- City of Needles
- City of Oakland
- City of Petaluma
- City of Pinole
- County of Placer
- City of Rancho Cordova
- City of Rancho Cucamonga
- City of Redwood City
- City of Richmond
- City of Riverside
- City of Rohnert Park
- City of Roseville
- City of Sacramento
- County of Sacramento
- City of Salinas
- City of San Diego
- City of San Leandro
- City of San Luis Obispo
- City of Santa Cruz
- City of Santa Monica
- City of Santa Rosa
- County of San Diego
- City and County of San Francisco
- County of Sonoma
- City of South Lake Tahoe
- City of South San Francisco
- City of Stockton
- County of Tulare
- City of Ukiah
- City of Walnut Creek
- City of West Hollywood
- City of West Sacramento
- Town of Windsor
- County of Yuba
Regulation Conversion
- Notice of Second 15-Day Public Comment Period For Proposed Further Modified Text (PDF)
- Proposed Further Modified Text for Second 15-Day Public Comment Period (PDF)
- Notice of 15-Day Comment Period for Proposed Modified Text (PDF)
- Proposed Modified Text for 15-Day Public Comment Period (PDF)
- Addendum to Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR) (PDF)
- Document Incorporated into Proposed Modified Text (PDF)
- Notice of Proposed Action (NOPA) (PDF)
- Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR) (PDF)
- Proposed Text (PDF)
- Document incorporated into Regulation definition of 'Wetlands' (PDF)
- Document Incorporated by Reference: Formal Resolution for the Prohousing Designation Program (PDF)
Emergency Regulations
- Second Advance Notice of Intent to Readopt Emergency Regulations (PDF)
- Advance Notice of Intent to Readopt Emergency Regulations (PDF)
- Prohousing Designation Program PowerPoint (PDF)
- Prohousing Regulation Text (PDF)
- Wetlands Classification System (PDF) — Incorporated by reference at Section 6601(a)(9)(C) of the Prohousing Regulation Text
- Prohousing Application Resolution (PDF) — Incorporated by reference at Section 6604(c) of the Prohousing Regulation Text; Note: An editable version is also included within the application.
- Prohousing Justifications for Emergency Regulations (PDF)
- AB 101 (2019-2020)