Housing and land use are essential components of effective regional planning. SCAG’s Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy outlines a unified vision for a future where housing goals can be achieved alongside positive outcomes in transportation, sustainability, and economic prosperity. SCAG’s planning and policy development provides a forum for policy dialogue, information sharing, technical analysis, and consensus building on critical community, mobility, housing, and natural resource issues confronting the region.  

SCAG’s state-mandated role is to develop the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) as part of the regular process of updating housing elements of local general plans. During the most recent 6th Cycle RHNA process, SCAG assigned a regional determination of 1.34 million housing units by 2029 to manage through the RHNA process.  

SCAG’s role in advancing housing solutions has increased significantly in recent years to include the provision of funding, data, and technical assistance to support cities and counties in meeting housing production goals and finding new and innovative ways to realize the region’s housing goals.  

SCAG’s work also advances the following housing principles:   

• Supporting housing equity.  
• Increasing housing supply and affordability.   
• Aligning housing with transportation and sustainability.  
• Advancing policy through engagement.  
• Increasing housing diversity and choice.  
• Advancing financial tools.  

Housing Legislation

SCAG advocates at the state level to influence housing legislation with potential to impact the region. SCAG’s advocacy includes working with state legislators, participating in coalitions, and providing input on proposed laws and regulations. SCAG develops policy recommendations and best practices to address regional housing challenges, such as affordability, homelessness, and the need for diverse housing types.   

Recent wins include the 2023 approval of Assembly Bill (AB) 785, which added new California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions for affordable housing projects and transitional housing projects for youth and young adults in the city of Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County. AB 785 also extended CEQA expiring exemptions for low-barrier navigation centers and supportive housing projects. The CEQA exemptions for these specified projects would have expired in 2030 unless extended or reauthorized. SCAG supported this bill in June 2023, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law in October 2023.  

Also in 2023, AB 1332 passed requiring local governments to create a program for pre-approval of accessory dwelling units and approve or disapprove an application within 30 days of submission. SCAG took an active role in this legislation, working with Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo to amend the language and improve the bill and supporting the bill in June 2023. The governor then signed this bill into law in October 2023.  

Learn more at the SCAG legislation and advocacy website. 

6th Cycle Housing Element Update Resources   

To comply with state housing law, jurisdictions within California must update their housing element every eight years during the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process. Housing elements are required to identify sites, rezone, and include other programs necessary for a jurisdiction to accommodate designated housing need. Housing elements guide the development community about where to deliver new housing and where to invest in housing-supportive infrastructure. In collaboration with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), SCAG has developed a variety of resources to assist local jurisdictions during the RHNA process. These data are available as complete reports and in raw format. HCD has certified the local housing data and Accessory Dwelling Units Affordability Analyses for local use in the housing element.   

For more information, please contact us at housing@scag.ca.gov.   

Reports were updated in April 2021 to include each jurisdiction’s final 6th cycle RHNA allocation. Excel versions of each jurisdiction’s data are available in the complete raw data and metadata file.   

• Complete raw data and metadata (Excel, 36 MB)   
• SCAG Regional Accessory Dwelling Unit Affordability Analysis   
• Housing needs data certification letter from HCD    
• Housing Element Parcel Tool (HELPR)   

View Local Housing Data

External Tools and Resources  

HCD Housing Planning Hub  

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) launches the Housing Planning Hub Site, a repository of statewide and regional toolkits, factsheets, and guidance on a variety of housing policy areas with a specific focus on priority policy areas. The hub includes interactive maps, model ordinances resources, toolkits, checklists, and online trainings. HCD will continually update the resource center as new tools become available.   

Housing Working Group

The Housing Working Group (HWG) is an interactive forum for workshops, panel discussions, and presentations covering a broad range of topics and themes identified as of potential interest by SCAG and the HWG. This group is open to housing stakeholders, housing professionals, and any other parties interested in housing issues.  

Learn more about HWG on the RPWG website.