Housing Element

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is a Housing Element?

Since 1969, State law requires that jurisdictions throughout California complete a Housing Element, the only element of a locality’s General Plan that must be approved (“certified”) by the State, through its Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In addition to a variety of statistics on housing needs, constraints to development, and policies and programs to implement a variety of housing-related land use actions, the Housing Element must include a detailed inventory of “opportunity sites” on which future housing may be built. The City last updated its Housing Element in 2015, which covered a 7½-year planning period from 2015 – 2023. The City is currently working on an update of the Housing Element for the planning period from 2022 to 2030. Upon adoption, the 2022 Housing Element will become part of the General Plan.

 

When is the update happening?

Unlike other parts of the General Plan, the Housing Element has a deadline. For this 8 year cycle, the deadline is January 2023. The City adopted its updated Housing Element on January 24, 2023, which can be viewed by clicking here.

 

How is the Housing Element updated?

The General Plan Advisory Committee started its engagement process in February of 2021 to gather community input and feedback on what the key considerations are for the updated Housing Element. The General Plan Advisory Committee worked through early 2022 to draft a Housing Element based on the input and ideas received from the public through written and spoken public comment, EngagementHQ activities, and outreach events. The GPAC broke the Housing Element into three sections and the public was asked to provide their feedback and recommendations on each section to make sure the housing plan is representative of the community’s values and vision. The three sections were also be reviewed by the Planning Commission before the document goes before the City Council for final approval. The City must adopt its updated Housing Element by the end of January 2023.

 

Why should I get involved?

  • The Housing Element goals, programs, and policies will shape how Lafayette looks and feels moving forward

  • You and your community have a unique perspective to share!

  • Widespread participation makes for a stronger, more representative plan

  • Getting involved will provide the background for you to make informed decisions

  • Help the General Plan Advisory Committee determine how to spread development opportunity to meet the City’s obligations

 

Talk to your neighbors! We need a bunch of folks are involve

  • Revisit PlanLafayette.org for updates and ways to get involved

  • Join the conversation on EngagementHQ, where you can complete surveys, ask questions, and see ideas posted by other members of the community!

  • Attend GPAC meetings through Zoom. Schedule and agenda can be found on the Events Calendar at LoveLafayette.org

How do I get involved?

 

In early 2020, the City Council adopted a comprehensive update to its existing ADU Ordinance in response to a series of State bills that went into effect on January 1, 2020 (AB 881, SB 13, and AB 68). These State Law changes aimed to limit local regulation of ADUs (zoning, impact fees, design review) and increase production of ADUs across California to address housing shortages. ADUs can be one part of the solution towards meeting housing goals (a tool in the tool box), but cannot be the only strategy.

What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?

Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) is 

  • contained entirely within an existing or proposed single-family residential building

  • contains an efficiency kitchen

  • can share sanitation facilities with the primary residence

  • no more than 500 square feet

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) also called granny flat, in-law unit, etc. is: 

  • a distinct dwelling that accompanies a primary residence

  • provides independent facilities for living, cooking, eating, sleeping and sanitation

  • can be detached or contained within an existing or proposed residential building

 

What is Affordable Housing?

Affordable rents in Lafayette.jpg

In general, housing is considered affordable if a household spends no more than 30% of its gross income on housing costs (35% for for-sale housing). Using the table shown above, the following tables are examples of what households of various sizes and incomes can afford in Lafayette.

Sometimes, affordable units are referred to as “below-market-rate” or BMR. A BMR unit is a housing unit that is priced to be affordable to households that are moderate income or below. These housing units are often built by local government, non-profits, or as a requirement of the developer as part of an inclusionary housing ordinance. As a result, these homes have certain deed restrictions recorded on the property which ensure the home remains affordable for future generations.

This means that a single person earning $45,700 per year (almost $22 per hour) is considered very low income, while a three-person household (say, one working parent, one stay-at-home parent, and a child) earning $94,000 is considered low income. (Note that the very low-income category in the RHNA allocations must be divided in half to create an extremely low-income category.)

 

Who qualifies as "low income" in Lafayette?

Very low income (VLI): 50% of median income or less

  • Low income (LI): 50-80% of median income

  • Moderate income (MOD): 80-120% of median income

  • Above moderate (Above MOD): 120% of median and above

The State, in conjunction with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), establishes income category standards for a variety of housing programs, including for the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). State Income Limits apply to designated programs, are used to determine applicant eligibility (based on the level of household income), and may be used to calculate affordable housing costs for applicable housing assistance programs.

Each of these people play a role in not only keeping Lafayette running, but also making it the place it is today. According to U.S. Census data, Contra Costa County employees report some of the highest commute times with a mean of about 40 minutes each way. One way adding new affordable housing can help Lafayette is to create more opportunities for those who work in Lafayette to be able to live here too. This can contribute not only to an improved quality of life for these community members through reduced commute times, but also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

The median income for a family of 4 in Lafayette is $119,200.

For comparison, the following jobs fall into the following income categories:

Lafayette Public School Teacher - $56,000 annual salary or $28 per hour - Low Income

Firefighter - $86,000 or $41 per hour - Moderate Income

Waiter - $20,000 annual salary or $10 per hour - Extremely Low Income

Starbucks Barista - $26,000 annual salary or $13 per hour - Extremely Low Income

 

The Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is the number of new housing units every California city and county needs to plan for over an eight year cycle.

Click here to visit the Regional Housing Needs page on this site for more detailed information on affordable housing requirements, the City’s past performance towards RHNA, and more.

What is the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)?

 

Click here to visit the CEQA page on this site for more information.

What is CEQA? What is CEQA review for the Housing Element?

 

Have a question not mentioned here? Use our Q&A tool to submit your question to planning staff.