Code Section

65850.01.  

(a) The Department of Housing and Community Development, hereafter referred to as “the department” in this section, shall have the authority to review an ordinance adopted or amended by a county or city after September 15, 2017, that requires as a condition of the development of residential rental units that more than 15 percent of the total number of units rented in a development be affordable to, and occupied by, households at 80 percent or less of the area median income if either of the following apply:

(1) The county or city has failed to meet at least 75 percent of its share of the regional housing need allocated pursuant to Sections 65584.04, 65584.05, and 65584.06, as applicable for the above-moderate income category specified in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, prorated based on the length of time within the planning period pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 65588, over at least a five-year period. This determination shall be made based on the annual housing element report submitted to the department pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400.

(2) The department finds that the jurisdiction has not submitted the annual housing element report as required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400 for at least two consecutive years.

(b) Based on a finding pursuant to subdivision (a), the department may request, and the county or city shall provide, evidence that the ordinance does not unduly constrain the production of housing by submitting an economic feasibility study. The county or city shall submit the study within 180 days from receipt of the department’s request. The department’s review of the feasibility study shall be limited to determining whether or not the study meets the following standards:

(1) A qualified entity with demonstrated expertise preparing economic feasibility studies prepared the study.

(2) If the economic feasibility study is prepared after September 15, 2017, the county or city has made the economic feasibility study available for at least 30 days on its internet website. After 30 days, the county or city shall include consideration of the economic feasibility study on the agenda for a regularly scheduled meeting of the legislative body of the county or city prior to consideration and approval. This paragraph applies when an economic feasibility study is completed at the request of the department or prepared in connection with the ordinance.

(3) The study methodology followed best professional practices and was sufficiently rigorous to allow an assessment of whether the rental inclusionary requirement, in combination with other factors that influence feasibility, is economically feasible.

(c) If the economic feasibility study requested pursuant to subdivision (b) has not been submitted to the department within 180 days, the jurisdiction shall limit any requirement to provide rental units in a development affordable to households at 80 percent of the area median income to no more than 15 percent of the total number of units in a development until an economic feasibility study has been submitted to the department and the department makes a finding that the study meets the standards specified in paragraphs (1), (3), and, if applicable, (2), of subdivision (b).

(d) (1) Within 90 days of submission, the department shall make a finding as to whether or not the economic feasibility study meets the standards specified in paragraphs (1), (3), and, if applicable, (2), of subdivision (b).

(2) If the department finds that the jurisdiction’s economic feasibility study does not meet the standards in paragraphs (1), (3), and, if applicable, (2), of subdivision (b), the jurisdiction shall have the right to appeal the decision to the Director of Housing and Community Development or their designee. The director or their designee shall issue a final decision within 90 days of the department’s receipt of the appeal unless extended by mutual agreement of the jurisdiction and the department.

(3) If in its final decision the department finds that jurisdiction’s economic feasibility study does not meet the standards in paragraphs (1), (3), and, if applicable, (2), of subdivision (b), the jurisdiction shall limit any requirement to provide rental units in a development affordable to households at 80 percent of the area median income to no more than 15 percent of the total number of units in a development until such time as the jurisdiction submits an economic feasibility study that supports the ordinance under review and the department issues a finding that the study meets the standards in paragraphs (1), (3), and, if applicable, (2), of subdivision (b).

(e) The department shall not request to review an economic feasibility study for an ordinance more than 10 years from the date of adoption or amendment of the ordinance, whichever is later.

(f) The department shall annually report any findings made pursuant to this section to the Legislature in the annual report required by Section 50408 of the Health and Safety Code.

(g) The Legislature finds and declares that ensuring access to affordable housing is a matter of statewide concern and not a municipal affair, as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, this section shall apply to an ordinance proposed or adopted by any city, including a charter city.