The City of San Diego remains committed to providing Homes for All of Us. Housing Action Package 1.0 adopted in February 2022, included new programs and code revisions to incentivize construction of new homes at all income levels. Housing Action Package 2.0 will continue the commitment to create regulations that encourage the development of homes for San Diego’s diverse population. The Housing Action Package 2.0 aims to implement state law to allow the construction of more new homes near transit, provide protections to existing residents and increase the supply of land available for new home development. This initiative will also incentivize and promote new home opportunities in all communities that San Diegans of all income levels can afford.
This initiative focuses on the following priority areas of the Strategic Plan:
Create Homes for All of Us
Allows additional opportunities for homes for people of all incomes, abilities and family compositions in all communities, especially in higher-resource communities currently lacking affordable homes.
Champion Sustainability
Allows for more homes where residents can walk, roll, bike and take transit.
Foster Regional Prosperity
Promotes homes for residents of all incomes in all communities, so San Diego continues to have a strong economy.
Implements state law to eliminate parking minimums for all residential and commercial developments within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop.
Encourages the development of ADUs that are accessible for people with disabilities through amending the ADU Home Density Bonus Program.
Implements changes recommended by HCD regarding JADUs through minor code revisions and clarifications.
Promotes the preservation of affordable homes and protects residents from displacement caused by development.
Complete Communities Amendments
Streamlines regulations to remove barriers to develop family homes, encourages the development of middle-income homes, and allows for offsite affordable homes.
Encourages the development of new homes in areas with specific land uses that are not compatible with nearby residential areas. Disallows continuation of specific uses on premises adjacent to residential uses that are currently zoned to allow residential uses and creates additional incentives for redevelopment.
Fair Housing: Off-Site Allowances
Requires that off-site affordable homes developed through inclusionary housing and density bonus programs are in areas that advance fair housing opportunities throughout the city.
Provides public agencies greater flexibility in developing homes on publicly owned land by increasing allowed densities and allowing affordable homes development on premises zoned as commercial or residential.
Encourages the development of "missing middle" homes by allowing up to 10 units on qualifying parcels and requiring a portion of all developments be set aside as deed-restricted affordable homes.
Single Room Occupancy Hotel Incentives
Encourages the preservation or creation of Single Room Occupancy hotel units through new density bonus incentives and amendments to existing programs.
Allows the development of student homes through private-dorm style developments in transit-rich areas and near universities, and promotes deed-restricted affordable homes for students through expanded density bonuses.
Input from the public is encouraged throughout the process. Beginning in February 2023, the Planning Department will host the following public workshops:
Learn About Where Community Input Comes From
Virtual Workshop: Encouraging New Homes
The Encouraging New Homes workshop was held on Feb. 21, 2023. A recording of the workshop can be viewed by clicking on the icon below.
Virtual Workshop: Fair Housing For All
The Fair Housing For All workshop was held on Feb. 23, 2023. A recording of the workshop can be viewed by clicking on the icon below.
In-Person Workshops
The in-person Missing Middle Housing Workshop was held on March 2, 2023, and the in-person Discontinued Harmful Uses and Anti-displacement Workshop was held on March 13, 2023. Additional opportunities to provide comments on these proposals will be provided soon along with frequently asked questions and comments. Please continue to visit this website for further updates.
Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) Implementation
Senate Bill 9 was passed by the state legislature in 2021 and took effect on Jan. 1, 2022. It requires a city to approve the following:
-Up to two new homes on a single-family zoned lot and/or;
-Splitting a single-family zoned lot into two lots about the same size.
Senate Bill 9 also allows for the city to tailor some decisions regarding setbacks, parking, landscaping and development impact fee (DIF) requirements. The City’s Municipal Code will be amended with an additional section that focuses on multi-dwelling units and lot splitting in single-family zones.
Obtenga más información sobre la implementación del Proyecto de Ley del Senado 9 (SB 9 por sus siglas en ingles) y las regulaciones para unidades de vivienda accesoria.
Learn more in this presentation:
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Amendments to the City’s ADU regulations provide consistency with SB9 related to setbacks, parking, landscaping and DIF fees.
-Require 4-foot setback for multi-story ADUs next to residential lots.
-Tree regulations for all ADU’s and additional requirements on sites with two or more ADUs.
-Increasing development impact fee for each ADU in excess of the first two larger than 750 square feet.
Obtenga más información sobre la implementación del Proyecto de Ley del Senado 9 (SB 9 por sus siglas en ingles) y las regulaciones para unidades de vivienda accesoria.
Learn more in this presentation:
Affordable Housing in All Communities
Affordable housing is not available in all communities in San Diego. In fact, many communities have little to no housing reserved for low-income residents.
The Housing Action Package encourages more affordable housing construction throughout the City by allowing affordable units built through the City’s density bonus program and 100% affordable housing developments to be built in these communities. To meet the City’s climate and equity goals, the homes must be built near transit and in areas deemed “high resource” by the State of California. “High resource” communities generally have access to high-paying jobs, high-performing schools and better air quality. This proposal is a key component of the City’s efforts to further fair housing and make all communities in San Diego more accessible to live in.
Employee Housing Incentive Program
Currently, new office buildings, retail stores, industrial facilities and other non-residential projects do not have an opportunity to provide housing for the new employees the development brings to the City.
The Housing Action Package allows non-residential development in Transit Priority Areas to pay into the Affordable Housing Trust fund or build affordable housing in exchange for incentives. This proposal is intended to assist in the promotion of job growth in the City while also addressing the housing crisis.
Currently, the City allows for the development of Live/Work units that function as both a home and place of business. Over the past several years, the workforce needs have changed and more Live/Work units are needed to accommodate people who work from home.
The Housing Action Package amends the requirements for Live/Work units to allow for more working from home and telework opportunities.
In addition to the opportunities for new housing mentioned above, the City of San Diego recognizes it has its own role to play in meeting the needs of residents.
The Housing Action Package allows by-right affordable and middle-income housing developments on existing and new publicly-owned sites. For example, when the City constructs a library or other public facility, it could include housing units in the development. The City could also build housing on parking lots or other City-owned existing built spaces.
Residents with disabilities need more opportunities to live in accessible homes with adequate space in kitchens and bathrooms and accessible routes throughout the building. As San Diego’s population ages, creating accessible homes is an important way to ensure more residents can remain in San Diego.
The Housing Action Package provides incentives for housing developments to include more accessible housing than required by the California Building Code.
Housing for families can be difficult to find. Residents with multiple children or intergenerational families may not be able to find opportunities to live in places within walking distance of transit, schools and parks.
The Housing Action Package provides incentives for housing developments with units that have three or more bedrooms. Additional incentives are awarded if the three or more bedroom units are reserved for middle-income families.
The Housing Action Package also makes minor revisions to the existing policy that facilitates the production of new housing. These minor revisions include:
For more information on Housing Action Package 1.0, please see the HAP 1.0 Fact Sheet.
Housing Action Package 1.0 Public Hearings
Agenda Staff Report
Notice of Public HearingOn Aug. 4, 2021, Planning Department staff hosted a Homes For All of Us Implementation Proposal workshop to receive public feedback on ideas to provide more housing in San Diego. This was followed by a second workshop on Aug. 16, 2021, to discuss the proposed code amendment language. If you missed the workshops, you can view recordings of the meetings below.
