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Consequences for Failing to Complete Rezoning Deadline:

Housing Element Sites Inventory Guidebook (AB 1397) · 2026 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

If a local government fails to complete all rezoning’s by the prescribed deadline, a local government may not disapprove a housing development project[7] , nor require a conditional use permit, planned unit development permit, or other locally imposed discretionary permit, or impose a condition that would render the project infeasible, if the housing development project:

  • Is proposed to be located on a site included in a housing element program to be rezoned.

  • Complies with applicable objective general plan and zoning standards and criteria, including design review standards, described in the rezone program action.

However, any subdivision of the site is subject to the Subdivision Map Act.

A jurisdiction may disapprove a housing development or approve it upon the condition that the project be developed at a lower density only if it makes written findings supported by substantial evidence on the record that both of the following conditions exist:

  • The housing development project would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety[8] .

  • There is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact.

The local government may also be subject to enforcement actions by HCD, including a determination that the housing element no longer complies with the requirements of state law and referral to the Attorney General pursuant to Government Code section 65585(i) and (j).

7 “Housing development project” is defined a project to construct residential units for which the project developer provides sufficient legal commitments to the appropriate legal agency to ensure the continued availability and use of at least 49 percent of the housing units for very-low, low-, and moderate-income households with an affordable housing cost or affordable rent.

8 “Specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.

Site Inventory Guidebook

Page 34

May 2020

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▸ Contents — Housing Element Sites Inventory Guidebook (AB 1397)
Housing Element Sites Inventory Guidebook (AB 1397)
  1. SUBJECT: Housing Element Site Inventory Guidebook Government C…
  2. Housing Element Site Inventory Requirements
  3. SITE INVENTORY GUIDEBOOK FRAMEWORK
  4. PART A: IDENTIFICATION OF SITES
  5. PART B: SITES TO ACCOMMODATE LOW AND VERY LOW- INCOME RHNA
  6. PART C: CAPACITY ANALYSIS
  7. PART D: NONVACANT SITES
  8. PART E: DETERMINATION OF ADEQUATE SITES
  9. Step 1: Identification of Developable Sites Government Code se…
  10. Government Code section 65583.2(b)
  11. Step 3: Infrastructure Availability Government Code section 65…
  12. Step 4: Map of Sites
  13. Step 5: Determination of Consistency with Affirmatively Furthe…
  14. Government Code section 65583.2(c)
  15. HCD Best Practices for selecting sites to accommodate the lowe…
  16. Step 7: Environmental Constraints
  17. NEXT STEP:
  18. Step 1: NEW Sites Used in Previous Planning Periods Housing El…
  19. Unusual Circumstances
  20. Step 1B:
  21. Definition of Use By Right (Government Code section 65583.2 (i))
  22. Sample Program:
  23. Government Code section 65583.2(c)(3)
  24. Housing Overlays
  25. Step 3: Size of Sites
  26. Definition of a Large Site
  27. Specific Plans, Master Plan, and other Subdivisions
  28. NEXT STEP:
  29. Step1: Utilizing minimum densities to calculate realistic capa…
  30. Government Code section 65583.2(c)(2)
  31. - Applicable land use controls and site improvement requirements
  32. Form Based Codes
  33. Typical densities of existing or approved residential developm…
  34. No Net Loss Law
  35. NEXT STEP:
  36. Definition of a Vacant Site
  37. Step 1: Description of the nonvacant site Government Code Sect…
  38. Government Code section 65583.2(g)(1)
  39. Existing Uses:
  40. Development Trends:
  41. Market Conditions:
  42. Availability of Regulatory and/or other Incentives:
  43. Step 3: NEW Reliance on nonvacant sites to accommodate more th…
  44. Step 4: NEW Program and policy requiring replacement of existi…
  45. Program X: Replacement Unit Program
  46. Funding: General Funds
  47. NEXT STEP:
  48. Government Code section 65583.1
  49. Impact of New Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws
  50. Step 2: Determine whether there is sufficient capacity to acco…
  51. Step 3: Adequate Sites Program
  52. General Program Requirements
  53. Timing
  54. Consequences for Failing to Complete Rezoning Deadline:
  55. Housing Accountability Act and the Housing Element
  56. Annexation
  57. Common Program Questions and Answers for Shortfall Zoning:
  58. ATTACHMENT 1: SUMMARY OF NEW LAWS REFERENCED IN THE GUIDEBOOK
  59. ATTACHMENT 2: GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65583.2

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