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Sacramento for All: Housing Education Resource Center

2. Housing Element: The City's Housing Strategy

Sacramento for All: Housing Education Resource Center

2. Housing Element: The City's Housing Strategy

On this page, you can learn more about how the City plans for our housing needs through the Housing Element.

What is the Housing Element?

In the State of California, every city and county is charged with developing a General Plan, which serves as a blueprint for future growth. Much like a book, the General Plan consists of chapters, which are called “elements”, that cover different aspects of urban growth. The Housing Element is one of many State-required elements of every General Plan. Unlike the other elements, the Housing Element must be updated on an eight-year schedule and be approved by the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development. The City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element sets forth the policies and programs to address the housing needs of all households in Sacramento. It is the City’s housing strategy and commitment for how it will meet the housing needs of everyone in the community.

Chart showing each individual piece of the General Plan

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How do cities plan for their housing needs?

Ensuring Adequate Land is Available

State Law mandates cities to demonstrate their capacity to accommodate their local share of regional housing needs in the Housing Element. Each jurisdiction’s responsibility for meeting the overall regional housing need is established as a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). To demonstrate the City’s capacity to accommodate the housing needs identified by the RHNA, the City conducted a sites inventory. This process identified a list of sites that are suitable for future residential development and have the appropriate zoning, development standards, and infrastructure capacity.

Regional Housing Needs Assesment is the State-required process

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It is important to note that the City is not responsible for the actual construction of these units, however, the City is responsible for creating a regulatory environment in which developers are allowed and encouraged to build housing, including both market rate units and below market rate units.

California Assembly Bill 686 requires public agencies to affirmatively further fair housing.

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Goals, Policies, and Programs

In addition to ensuring there is enough available capacity to meet our housing needs through the RHNA and sites inventory process, the City also develops goals, policies, and programs to implement over the planning period. These goals, policies, and programs are developed based on community input and priorities, a comprehensive analysis of housing needs and constraints to housing development, and a commitment to affirmatively furthering fair housing. Below are the 8 goals that provided the framework for the policies and programs found in the Housing Element.

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All City decisions must be made in alignment with the adopted policies of the General Plan, which includes those found in the Housing Element. Additionally, the City is working to implement the 49 adopted implementation programs that were developed based on our city’s specific needs. Below is an example of what a Housing Element implementation program looks like.

Program Name and Number: To help with identification, a program name and number can be found at the top of each program.
Program Description: A description of the program and possible steps to successfully implement can be found below the name of the program.
Policy Implementation: The first bullet references which Housing Element policy the program addresses.
Timeframe: The second bullet sets forth a timeframe for implementation. In the case of programs that are ongoing, this section will point out that the program will continue through this Housing Element cycle.
Responsible Department: The third bullet shows which City department will lead the implementation of the program.
Objective: The last bullet includes a brief description of the main objective this program will accomplish.

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Diagram breaking down each step of implementing housing

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How does the City implement the Housing Element?

The City has committed to implementing 49 implementation programs throughout the Housing Element planning period (2021-2029). Although the City is responsible for ensuring the programs get implemented, there are many departments, agencies, and partners involved. Some key implementing entities include the Community Development Department, the Office of Innovation & Economic Development, the Department of Community Response, and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. While City staff and governing bodies play driving roles in program administration, program development and implementation are greatly influenced by engagement with stakeholders and the community at-large.

City staff also regularly meet with a Housing Policy Working Group, comprised of approximately 40 individuals representing a wide range of perspectives, including real estate representatives, housing advocacy groups, housing developers, staff from State agencies and departments, Planning and Design Commissioners, Property Business Improvement Districts (PBIDs), and local non-profits, to vet and gather feedback on various implementation programs.

Where can I learn more about past, current, and future implementation?

Each year, the City is required to develop a Housing Element Annual Progress Report. This state-mandated report includes detailed reporting on housing production numbers and Housing Element program implementation. This report is due to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on April 1 every year and is brought for review to the City Council and Planning and Design Commission prior to final submittal to HCD. In addition to viewing the City’s Annual Progress Reports, anyone can stay up-to-date on current implementation programs by signing up for the City’s Housing Element email newsletter.

Additional Resources

Housing Element Webpage | City of Sacramento Community Development
Housing Elements | California Department of Housing and Community Development
Annual Progress Reports | California Department of Housing and Community Development
Sign up for updates | Subscribe to receive Housing Element updates

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