STATE OF CALIFORNIA - BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES AND HOUSING AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF HOUSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
651 Bannon Street, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 263-2911 / FAX (916) 263-7453
www.hcd.ca.gov
July 10, 2025
Heather Allen, Director
Planning and Building Department
City of Anaheim
200 South Anaheim Boulevard, Suite 162
Anaheim, CA 92805
Dear Heather Allen:
RE: City of Anaheim’s 6
th Cycle (2021-2029) Adopted Housing Element
Thank you for submitting the City of Anaheim’s (City) housing element, which was adopted April 22, 2025 and received for review on May 16, 2025. In addition, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) received Resolution 2025-034, Ordinances 6609 and 6610 and other related zoning documents.
HCD is reporting the results of its review pursuant to Government Code section 65585.
HCD is pleased to find the adopted housing element in substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law (Gov. Code, § 65580 et seq) as of the date of this letter.
The adopted element was found to be substantially the same as the revised draft element that HCD’s January 30, 2025 review determined met statutory requirements.
This finding is based on, among other things, implementation of Programs 1H (Center City Corridors Specific Plan), 1J (Residential Opportunities Overlay Zone), 1K (Sites from Previous Housing Element Cycles) and 1R (Multifamily Rezoning in High Resource Areas) to rezone and address a shortfall of capacity to accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and make available prior identified sites to, among other provisions, permit housing developments with 20 percent affordability for lower- income households without discretionary action and meet minimum density and residential only requirements.
Additionally, the City must continue timely and effective implementation of all programs including but not limited to the following:
• Strategy 1E (Extremely Low-Income (ELI) Households)
• Strategy 1F (Special Needs Households)
• Strategy 1G (Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan)
• Strategy 1H (Center City Corridors Implementation Plan) • Strategy 1I (Housing with Religious and Community Facilities)
Heather Allen, Director
• Strategy 1J (Residential Opportunities Overlay Zone)
• Strategy 1K (Use of Sites from Previous Cycles)
• Strategy 1P (Entitlement Process, Development Standards and Fees) • Strategy 1Q (Promoting Housing Opportunity Sites)
• Strategy 1R (Multifamily Rezoning in High Resource Areas) • Strategy 1S (Accessory Dwelling Units)
• Strategy 1T (New Zoning Tools)
• Strategy 1W (City-Owned Sites and Surplus Land Act)
• Strategy 1X (Parking Near Transit)
• Strategy 2A (At-Risk Units)
• Strategy 2D (Neighborhood Improvement)
• Strategy 2E (Single Housekeeping Unit and Group Homes) • Strategy 3G (Design Guidelines)
• Strategy 4A (Acquisition and Conversion)
• Strategy 5A (Supportive Housing and Low Barrier Navigation Centers) • Strategy 5B (Transitional and Supportive Housing)
• Strategy 5C (Incentives for Special Needs Housing)
• Strategy 5E (Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)) • Strategy 5N (Density Bonus)
• Strategy 5O (Emergency Shelter Requirements)
• Strategy 5P (Single-Room Occupancy)
The City must monitor and report on the results of these and other programs through the annual progress report, required pursuant to Government Code section 65400.
Please be aware, Government Code section 65585, subdivision (i) grants HCD authority to review any action or failure to act by a local government that it determines is inconsistent with an adopted housing element or housing element law. This includes failure to implement program actions included in the housing element. HCD may revoke housing element compliance if the local government’s actions do not comply with state law.
Among other programs, Programs to rezone sites are essential to housing element compliance. While the City has completed rezoning related to Programs 1H, 1J, 1K and 1R (Programs), as part of near-term implementation (within 60 days), the City must take immediate action to clarify technical provisions related to (1) non-discretionary review for housing developments with 20 percent affordability; (2) requiring minimum densities; (3) residential performance standards in non-residential zones; and (4) cross-reference to sites used in prior planning period. HCD will send technical assistance under separate cover. In the interim, the City must permit housing development in accordance with the pertinent adopted housing element Programs and all statutory requirements pursuant to Government Code section 65583.2, subdivisions (c), (h) and (i). The City should expeditiously submit documentation of the technical clarifications upon completion. Finally, the City should closely monitor development standards such as lot coverage and parking requirements and make adjustments as appropriate to facilitate achieving maximum densities and address constraints to development.
Heather Allen, Director
Several federal, state, and regional funding programs consider housing element compliance as an eligibility or ranking criteria. For example, the CalTrans Senate Bill (SB) 1 Sustainable Communities grant, the Strategic Growth Council and HCD’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, and HCD’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation consider housing element compliance and/or annual reporting requirements pursuant to Government Code section 65400. With a compliant housing element, the City now meets housing element requirements for these and other funding sources.
For your information, some general plan element updates are triggered by housing element adoption. HCD reminds the City to consider timing provisions and welcomes the opportunity to provide assistance. For information, please see the Technical Advisories issued by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation at:
https://www.lci.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/guidelines.html.
HCD appreciates the cooperation and effort of you and the housing element team throughout the housing element update and review. HCD wishes the City success in implementing its housing element and looks forward to following its progress through the General Plan annual progress reports pursuant to Government Code section 65400.
If HCD can provide assistance in implementing the housing element, please contact Sayed Murad, of our staff, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Paul McDougall
Senior Program Manager