Housing Element 101
Housing Element 101
The Housing Element of the General Plan is a State-mandated policy document that identifies Yorba Linda’s existing and future housing needs and establishes clear goals to inform future housing decisions. The City’s Housing Element provides goals, policies and programs that address:
• Conserving and improving existing housing and neighborhoods
• Assisting in development and provision of affordable housing
• Providing adequate residential sites to address fair share housing needs
• Removing governmental constraints to housing development
• Promoting equal housing opportunities, including Yorba Linda’s special needs populations
The framework graphic illustrates how these Housing Element components fit together. Results from each of the four key components of the analysis -- review & revise, housing needs, resources, and constraints -- are reflected in the goals, policies and programs in the implementation plan. The entire process must reflect public participation from the draft stage to final adoption.
Unlike other elements of the General Plan, State law requires the Housing Element to be updated every eight years.
The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is tasked with reviewing Housing Elements for compliance with State housing laws. The City’s existing 2014-2021 Housing Element remains active until the 2021-2029 update is adopted (with a targeted adoption date of October 2021). The existing Housing Element is available here.
Want to know more about housing?
The Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) in coordination with the Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program (REAP) has provided some videos to help the public learn about housing related topics.
Housing For All Videos (Spanish)
To view the OCCOG Housing Webinar Series, click here.
Recent State Housing Legislation
Beginning with the California Legislature's landmark 2017 "Housing Package" that provided significant increases in funding for housing production, along with regulatory reform to streamline local project approvals and more stringent measures of local accountability, and continuing through the 2019 Legislative Session with over 30 new bills aimed at addressing California's affordable housing crisis, numerous new pieces of legislation will impact the Housing Element update. The following table identifies recent State legislation that will be addressed in the Housing Element in a variety of ways – through more stringent site identification requirements, additional analysis of constraints to development, and through new policies and programs. The summary is not exhaustive in its coverage of the listed laws, however, and any person wishing to see the full text of any one of the specified laws may do so by clicking on the bill number to the right.
Bill Title
SB 330 – Housing Crisis Act of 2019 and Changes to Permit Streamlining Act & Housing Accountability Act
AB 1763 – Density Bonuses for Affordable Housing
AB 116 – Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District
AB 879– Expands the required analysis of constraints in the Housing Element
AB 1486 / SB 6 / AB 1255 – Expansion of Surplus Land Act and Reporting
AB 1483 – Housing Data Collection and Reporting
AB 68 / AB 881 / SB 13 – Modifications to Increase Accessory Dwelling Unit Development
AB 587 – Sale of Accessory Dwelling Units
AB 670 – Construction of Accessory Dwelling Units in Common Interest Developments
AB 671 – Affordable Accessory Dwelling Unit Program Creation
SB 166 – “No Net Loss” Law
AB 1397 – Additional justification of Housing Element sites
AB 1505 – Authorizes Inclusionary Housing in Rental Projects
AB 72 – Increased Enforcement of Housing Element Law
AB 1482 – Limits annual rent increases
AB 2162 – Requires supportive housing be a use by-right in certain zones
Category
Bills Removing Barriers to Boost Housing Production
Surplus Land Databases and Reporting Requirements
Requirements for Accessory Dwelling Units
Related Housing Element Laws from 2017 Housing Package
Tenant protections
Established Uses By Right