California housing & land-use law
Housing Accountability Act Technical Assistance Advisory
California housing and land-use law as enacted — the statewide floor local ordinances are written against.
- Edition
- 2026
- Last updated
- 2026-07-29
- Contents
- 56 sections
- Jurisdiction
- California
Contents
- September 15, 2020
- Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- What is the Housing Accountability Act?
- Why Do We Need the Housing Accountability Act?
- Legislative Housing Accountability Act Interpretation Guidance
- Housing Accountability Act Decision Matrix
- NO: HAA does not apply
- NO
- NO
- Key Provisions of the Housing Accountability Act
- Housing Development Project Qualifications
- Housing Development Project Definition
- Housing for Very Low, Low-, or Moderate-Income Households
- Housing Developments Applying for the Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process Pursuant to Gov…
- Applicability of Local Standards
- Determination of Application Completeness
- Completeness Determination of Development Application
- Imposition of Development Conditions
- Housing Accountability Act Provisions That Apply to All Housing Projects
- Determination of Consistency with Applicable Plans, Standards, or Other Similar Provision Base…
- Applicability of Density Bonus Law
- General Plan and Zoning Consistency Standard
- Written Notification of Inconsistency
- Consequence for Failure to Provide Written Documentation
- Denial of a Housing Project that is Consistent with Applicable Plans, Standards, or Other Simi…
- Preponderance of the Evidence Standard
- State Policy on Housing Project Approval
- Denial or Conditioning of Housing Affordable to Very Low-, Low- or Moderate-Income Households,…
- Violations of Housing Accountability Act
- Eligible Plaintiffs and Petitioners
- Remedies
- Local Agency Appeal Bond
- Failure to Comply with Court Order
- Court-Imposed Fines
- What types of housing development project applications are subject to the Housing Accountabili…
- Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to charter cities?
- Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to housing development projects in coastal zones?
- Does the California Department of Housing and Community Development have enforcement authority…
- If approval of a housing development project triggers the No-Net Loss Law, may a local governm…
- Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to a residential development project on an historic …
- Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to an application for a duplex?
- Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to market-rate housing developments?
- Is there a definition for “specific, adverse impact” upon public health and safety?
- Appendix B: Definitions
- Housing for very low-, low-, or moderate-income households means that either:
- Appendix C: Preliminary Application (Senate Bill 330, Statutes of 2019)
- Benefits of a Preliminary Application
- Step 1: Preliminary Application Submittal GC 65941.1
- Step 2: Full Application Submittal
- Step 3: Determination of Application Completeness GC 65943
- Step 4: Application Consistency with Standards (HAA) GC 65589.5
- Step 5: Other Entitlement Process Requirements Pursuant to SB 330
- Appendix D: Housing Accountability Act Statute (2020)
- 65589.5.