Housing

Overview

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. 

Regional Housing Needs Assessment

Overview

Regional Housing Needs Assessment

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What is RHNA?

The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by State Housing Law as part of the periodic process of updating local housing elements of the General Plan. RHNA quantifies the need for housing within each jurisdiction during specified planning periods.

In March 2021, SCAG adopted its 6th cycle RHNA allocation plan, which covers the planning period October 2021 through October 2029. For the 6th cycle, SCAG received a need of 1,341,827 housing units, which was distributed to all 197 SCAG jurisdictions.

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Regional Early Action Planning

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REAP 2.0

Overview

REAP 2.0

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The Regional Early Action Planning Grants (REAP) 2.0 program is a flexible program that seeks to accelerate progress toward state housing goals and climate commitments through a strengthened partnership between the state, its regions, and local entities. REAP 2.0 seeks to accelerate infill housing development, reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT), increase housing supply at all affordability levels, affirmatively further fair housing, and implement adopted regional and local plans to achieve these goals.

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Sustainable Communities Strategies Integration

Overview

Sustainable Communities Strategies Integration

The Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) – Housing and Sustainable Development (HSD) 

The Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) – Housing and Sustainable Development (HSD) will provide resources and direct technical assistance to approximately 25 jurisdictions to complete local planning efforts that both accelerate housing production as well as enable implementation of the Sustainable Communities Strategy of Connect SoCal. For this cycle, the HSD program is funded by Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant funds.

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ADU Planning and Development

Overview

Accessory Dwelling Unit Planning and Development

Changes in state law in recent years have increased the potential for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to support increased housing supply.  New laws have addressed barriers to their implementation at scale, for example: setting development criteria for ADUs, streamlined processing, and limiting impact fees.

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