Housing Element Updates in the South Bay- Each city and county in California

Why are cities updating their Housing Element?

Each city and county in California is required to have a Housing Element and update it at least every eight years. Updating the Housing Element gives the City a clear picture of housing-related issues such as: housing supply and demand, the types of housing available within the City, housing affordability, and homelessness. Once the Housing Element is updated, it must be approved by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Updating the Housing Element will ensure that the City meets State requirements and makes it eligible for State grants and other funding resources. It will also provide the community with clear guidance on housing issues facing the city.

What is RHNA?

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by State Housing Law as part of the periodic process of updating local housing elements of the General Plan. RHNA quantifies the need for housing within each jurisdiction during specified planning periods. SCAG is in the process of developing the 6th cycle RHNA allocation plan which will cover the planning period October 2021 through October 2029.

Communities use RHNA in land use planning, prioritizing local resource allocation, and in deciding how to address identified existing and future housing needs resulting from population, employment and household growth. RHNA does not necessarily encourage or promote growth, but rather allows communities to anticipate growth, so that collectively the region and subregion can grow in ways that enhance quality of life, improve access to jobs, promotes transportation mobility, and addresses social equity and fair share housing needs.

RHNA Allocations: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/6th-cycle-rhna-final-allocation-plan.pdf?1625161899

The Housing Element process relies heavily on public input to ensure that the plans laid out by local jurisdictions are reasonable and likely to result in the actual development of new housing. It is vitally important that Realtors and the local associations of Realtors bring their real estate expertise to bear on this process by reviewing and commenting on local Housing Elements.

One critical step in the Housing Element drafting process is the submission of draft Housing Elements to the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for preliminary approval. HCD is required to review these drafts within 60 days, so it is critical to get comments to HCD and the City as soon as possible after the drafts are submitted to HCD.

Below is a snapshot of cities in the South Bay and their General Plan/ Housing Element Update processes.

Carson

Local Housing Data: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/carson-he-0421.pdf?1620800026

Status: General Plan in Progress

El Segundo

Local Housing Data: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/el-segundo-he-0421.pdf?1620798160

Status: Draft Housing Element – available for public review and comment

More Info: https://www.elsegundo.org/government/departments/development-services/planning-division/housing-element-update-2021-2029

Gardena

Local Housing Data: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/gardena-he-0421.pdf?1620797871

Status: Draft Housing Element – available for public review and comment

More Info: https://cityofgardena.org/housing-element/