Housing Element League Table

Happy New Year. The statutory deadline for Bay Area (and Santa Barbara County) jurisdictions to adopt a compliant housing element is January 31 (February 15). Most of them won’t.

There’s an emoji legend and some words at the end. But first, here’s what you’re looking for:

Alameda County

Contra Costa County

  • Contra Costa County: first draft not yet submitted to HCD 🏘️

  • Walnut Creek: rejected 12/5 ("many"); PC to recommend adoption 1/12; CC to adopt 1/17 😏

  • San Ramon: rejected 10/18 ("many"); revised draft submitted 12/29

  • Concord: rejected 11/14 ("many"); CC to consider 1/10; adoption plan unclear

  • Richmond: first draft submitted 12/9 (+90d = 3/9); PC recommended adoption 1/5 🤡

  • Antioch: rejected 9/29 ("many"); PC recommended adoption 1/4; adoption date TBA

  • Danville: rejected 11/10 ("many"); PC recommended adoption 12/13; TC to adopt 1/17 😏

  • Lafayette: rejected 9/29 ("many"); PC recommended adoption 1/3; adoption date TBA

  • Pittsburg: 🤡

  • Pleasant Hill: first draft submitted 12/27 🏘️

  • Brentwood: first draft submitted 10/17

  • El Cerrito: rejected 12/12 (unk.); adoption date TBA

  • Orinda: rejected 8/12 ("many"); revised draft submitted 11/16; revised revised draft published 1/5; adoption date TBA

  • Martinez: 🤡

  • Moraga: rejected 11/10 ("many"); PC to recommend adoption 1/10 😏

  • Oakley: rejected 11/29 (unk.); adoption date TBA

  • Hercules: rejected (unk.); revised draft submitted 1/5; adoption date TBA

  • San Pablo: rejected 12/27 (unk.); adoption date TBA

  • Clayton: rejected 10/12 ("many"); PC recommended adoption 12/13; CC to adopt 1/17 😏

  • Pinole: first draft submitted 12/2; CC to adopt in Apr./May 🏘️

Marin County

Napa County

San Francisco

  • San Francisco: PC recommended adoption 12/15; BOS to adopt in January

San Mateo County

Santa Barbara County (deadline = 2/15)

Santa Clara County

Solano County

Sonoma County

Emoji legend:

  • 🥳 = adopted and in compliance

  • 😉 = doing fine

  • 😏 = adopting with problems

  • 😱 = is HCD really gonna certify this?

  • 🏘️ = can’t, or doesn’t plan to, adopt before the statutory deadline

  • 🤡 = hasn’t published a draft, or is violating statutory procedure

In its review letters, HCD distinguishes between draft housing elements that address “many” vs. “most” statutory requirements. A “many” letter means the draft needs substantial improvement. A “most” letter means the draft is close to substantial compliance. 

Most of the time, we agree with HCD. But substantial compliance is a question of law. That’s how we can sue Redondo Beach, despite HCD’s certification. We think HCD got Redondo Beach’s certification wrong.

Your seasonally depressed correspondent will have more thoughts next week.