Resource Library

Need a basic overview of Housing Elements? Start with our Explainer page!

city data & GENERAL resources

The following resources can help you figure out key details about your city’s status in the Housing Element Process:

• When is your city’s Housing Element due? Check the 6th Cycle Schedule by Region.

• What is the status of your jurisdiction’s Housing Element? Check our Housing Element Status page

• How did your city do in the 5th cycle? Download this spreadsheet by HCD or check out this RHNA Report Card.

• Has your city submitted a Housing Element draft to HCD? Check here!

• Is your city in or out of compliance with Housing Element law?
  Compliance Status

• Has HCD corresponded with your city? Check the HCD Review Letters (.xls) file.

• ABAG-MTC Housing Needs Data

• ABAG-MTC 5th Cycle RHNA Sites Data

• US Census Data - DP04 Selected Housing Characteristics

HCD Resources

• Housing Element Implementation and APR Dashboard

• AFFH Guidance and AFFH Mapping Tool

• Site Inventory Guidebook

• How to analyze Sites and Zoning

• Housing Element Review Checklist

• SB 9 Fact Sheet

• HCD & OPR Site Check Map

• HCD 5th Cycle Status Map (SB 35)

• HCD Webinars

  • Part I: Introduction – The Update Process and Streamline Review

  • Part II: Basic Requirements – Public Participation, Review of Past Programs, Housing Needs and Constraints

  • Part III: Sites Inventory and Analysis

  • Part IV: Programs – Implementation Plan Requirements

  • Part V: Other Requirements

court rulings

• Clovis CA – Invalidating the affordable housing overlay zone (writ)

Key Legislation

• SB 166: HCD No Net Loss Law Explanatory Memo

• AB 686: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Two Page Explainer

• SB 35: Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process

Volunteer Resources

• Public Resources for Fair Housing Elements The Campaign’s shared Google Drive

• City Data Airtable

• RHNA Appeals

• Housing Element Compliance An explainer by YIMBY Law

• YIMBY Recommended Books

• Data Quick Links at yimbylaw.org

• Advocacy Letter Templates

• Model Resolution for Staff Guidance A template drafted by Dr. Chris Elmendorf for planning commissioners or city council representatives to cast a guiding vision for staff or consultants to draft a fair housing element

• ADU Data Tool by Builtly

• California General Plan Database Mapping Tool (UC Davis DataLab)

EDUCATION Resources

• Housing Elements Investigators 101
  A webinar intro to being a Housing Elements Watchdog by YIMBY Action

• Housing Element Kickoff Webinar

  A webinar on Housing Elements that covers redlining, AFFH, and compliance with state law

• Accurate Counting in the Latest RHNA

  A report by YIMBY Law in rebuttal to claims by the Embarcadero Institute that the state is planning for too many homes.

  • “Accurate Counting in the Latest RHNA” White Paper

• Housing Element Law
  A short slide deck from Melinda Coy from HCD summarizing what Housing Elements are, the overall RHNA process, and various government bodies’ role in the update process.

• UCLA Lewis Center - Housing Element Publications

• Kennedy Commission Understanding Site Inventories

  This quick guide goes over the basic guidelines for what kind of sites can be included in a jurisdiction’s list of proposed sites for their Housing Element.

  • Kennedy Commission Housing Element Tools

• ”Builder’s Remedy” Primer

  Brief on the so-called “Builder’s Remedy” for Housing Element noncompliance, prepared by Christopher S. Elmendorf, Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law.

Maps

• AFFH Map Builder (HUD)

• Opportunity Atlas Map

• Mapping Opportunity

• Racial Dot Map (Cooper Center)

• Redlining Maps from the HOLC

• HELPR Land Use Map (SCAG Region)

• HCD 5th Cycle SB 35 Status Map

• 5th Cycle Housing Element Sites (MTC; ABAG Region)

• AdvanceOC Equity Map & Social Progress Index (Orange County)

• Bay Area Development Rate (ABAG Region) [supporting report]