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Timing

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

Rezones due to a shortfall from the current planning period:

A locality’s ability to accommodate needed housing during the planning period requires designating appropriate zoning as early as possible. Generally, however, a rezoning should occur no later than three years and 120 days from the beginning of the planning period. A one-year extension to the deadline to complete required rezoning may be allowed if a local government has completed rezoning at sufficient densities to accommodate at least 75 percent of the units for very-low and low-income households. Also, the jurisdiction must determine after a public meeting that substantial evidence supports findings and adoption of a resolution that the rezone deadline was not met due to one of the following reasons:

  • Action or inaction beyond the control of the local government of any other state, federal, or local agency.

  • Infrastructure deficiencies due to fiscal or regulatory constraints.

Site Inventory Guidebook

Page 33

May 2020

  • The local government must undertake a major revision to its general plan in order to accommodate the housing-related policies of a sustainable communities strategy or an alternative planning strategy adopted pursuant to Section 65080.

The jurisdiction must provide HCD a copy of the resolution and findings along with: - a detailed budget and schedule for preparation and adoption of required rezoning within one year of the adoption of the resolution, - plans for citizen participation, and - expected interim actions to complete the rezoning, and any revisions to the general plan (Government Code section 65583(f).

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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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