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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Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — Housing Element Sites Inventory Guidebook (AB 1397)
- SUBJECT: Housing Element Site Inventory Guidebook Government C…
- Housing Element Site Inventory Requirements
- SITE INVENTORY GUIDEBOOK FRAMEWORK
- PART A: IDENTIFICATION OF SITES
- PART B: SITES TO ACCOMMODATE LOW AND VERY LOW- INCOME RHNA
- PART C: CAPACITY ANALYSIS
- PART D: NONVACANT SITES
- PART E: DETERMINATION OF ADEQUATE SITES
- Step 1: Identification of Developable Sites Government Code se…
- Government Code section 65583.2(b)
- Step 3: Infrastructure Availability Government Code section 65…
- Step 4: Map of Sites
- Step 5: Determination of Consistency with Affirmatively Furthe…
- Government Code section 65583.2(c)
- HCD Best Practices for selecting sites to accommodate the lowe…
- Step 7: Environmental Constraints
- NEXT STEP:
- Step 1: NEW Sites Used in Previous Planning Periods Housing El…
- Unusual Circumstances
- Step 1B:
- Definition of Use By Right (Government Code section 65583.2 (i))
- Sample Program:
- Government Code section 65583.2(c)(3)
- Housing Overlays
- Step 3: Size of Sites
- Definition of a Large Site
- Specific Plans, Master Plan, and other Subdivisions
- NEXT STEP:
- Step1: Utilizing minimum densities to calculate realistic capa…
- Government Code section 65583.2(c)(2)
- - Applicable land use controls and site improvement requirements
- Form Based Codes
- Typical densities of existing or approved residential developm…
- No Net Loss Law
- NEXT STEP:
- Definition of a Vacant Site
- Step 1: Description of the nonvacant site Government Code Sect…
- Government Code section 65583.2(g)(1)
- Existing Uses:
- Development Trends:
- Market Conditions:
- Availability of Regulatory and/or other Incentives:
- Step 3: NEW Reliance on nonvacant sites to accommodate more th…
- Step 4: NEW Program and policy requiring replacement of existi…
- Program X: Replacement Unit Program
- Funding: General Funds
- NEXT STEP:
- Government Code section 65583.1
- Impact of New Accessory Dwelling Unit Laws
- Step 2: Determine whether there is sufficient capacity to acco…
- Step 3: Adequate Sites Program
- General Program Requirements
- Timing
- Consequences for Failing to Complete Rezoning Deadline:
- Housing Accountability Act and the Housing Element
- Annexation
- Common Program Questions and Answers for Shortfall Zoning:
- ATTACHMENT 1: SUMMARY OF NEW LAWS REFERENCED IN THE GUIDEBOOK
- ATTACHMENT 2: GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65583.2