1 PROHOUSING DESIGNATION PROGRAM
Frequently Asked Questions
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) strongly recommends applicants read and understand all relevant laws and regulations specific to the Prohousing Designation Program, including Title 25, Sections 6600 – 6608 of the California Code of Regulations.
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
1 What is the Prohousing
Designation Program?
The Prohousing Designation Program (PDP)
seeks to reward jurisdictions for going above-
and-beyond what is required by state housing
laws in accelerating housing production.
Jurisdictions demonstrating how they promote
vibrant and inclusive communities through land
use and zoning reforms, such as streamlining
permit processes, reducing construction costs,
and providing financial subsidies for housing
development, are eligible to receive a Prohousing
Designation and take advantage of its many
benefits.
2 What are the benefits of
receiving a Prohousing
Designation?
Receiving a Prohousing Designation will earn a
jurisdiction additional scoring points in many
state funding programs, including:
1. Affordable Housing & Sustainable
Communities (AHSC)
2. Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG)
3. Transformative Climate Communities
(TCC)
4. Solutions for Congested Corridors (SCCP)
5. Local Partnership Program (LPP)
6. Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program
(TIRCP)
7. Sustainable Transportation Planning
Grants (STPG)
2 Additionally, the Prohousing Incentive Program
(PIP) offers exclusive, additional funding to
designated jurisdictions to assist them in
implementing Prohousing Policies.
3 Are there new program
changes in 2024?
Yes.
As of January 2024, HCD introduced additional
program thresholds in response to stakeholder
feedback, including public participation and
homeless encampment requirements. Minor
adjustments were made to scoring criteria and to
clarifying monitoring and revocation procedures.
To assist applicants with the new requirements,
HCD has developed several pre-approved
templates on how to conduct a diligent public
participation process and implement best
practices to assist persons experiencing
homelessness on public encampments. These
templates can be found in Appendices 5 and 6 of
the program application.
4 Is there a deadline to
submitting an application?
What is the timeline for
Prohousing Designation
once an application is
submitted?
Applications are accepted on an over-the-counter
(OTC) basis; there is no deadline for
applications.
Once the application is received, HCD has 60
calendar days to complete its review and provide
preliminary feedback on the application. Most
reviews continue through an iterative process, in
which HCD works with applicants to make
additional revisions to the application. The length
of time to receiving final HCD approvals will
depend on the scope, quality, and timeliness of
revisions. As a result, HCD advises applicants to
consider these application processing timeframes
and deadlines for funding programs that provide
benefits to jurisdictions with a Prohousing
Designation, and to plan accordingly.
Once an application is finalized, it is routed
through HCD’s leadership for final review and
approval. Program staff will be touch with the
applicant to provide status updates during this
process.
3 5 What support or resources
are available to jurisdictions
to navigate the PDP
application process?
HCD is providing ongoing and tailored technical
assistance to applicants. PDP staff are available
to all applicants to provide guidance on how to
comply with the program regulations. Technical
assistance can be requested for topics including
meeting threshold requirements, achieving points
to qualify for Prohousing Designation, and best
practices for implementing Prohousing Policies.
For technical assistance inquiries, please contact
[email protected].
6 What are the Prohousing
Designation application
threshold requirements?
All applicants must meet PDP’s threshold
requirements to qualify for a Prohousing
Designation. These thresholds include a
compliant housing element, APRs submitted, all
rezones complete, compliant with all state
housing laws, confirms treatment of homeless
encampments, and signs a resolution. More
details on these requirements can be found in
Section 6604 of the regulations and in the
program application.
7 Does HCD automatically
award Prohousing
Designation if the city or
county achieves 30 or more
points? Is this a competitive
process?
The PDP is not a competitive program; any
jurisdiction that meets the threshold requirements
and receives the necessary 30 points as
determined by HCD will qualify for Prohousing
Designation.
8 Can a Prohousing
Designation be revoked and
if so, under what
circumstances?
Yes, pursuant to Section 6607 of the program
regulations, Prohousing Designation may be
revoked at HCD’s discretion. A jurisdiction will be
notified in writing within 30 days of any review
that HCD commences. Please see Section 6607
for more information.
9 Will the public be able to
submit comments on
pending Prohousing
Designation applications?
Yes, public comments are welcome and may be
submitted to P [email protected].
Sign up to receive updates on Prohousing
Designation applications received by HCD by
clicking this HCD Email Signup link and selecting
the box labeled “Housing Planning and Policy.”
10 Does a jurisdiction’s
Prohousing Designation
expire?
Yes, a Prohousing Designation expires three
years from the first day of January following the
date of that jurisdiction’s Designation. For
example, a Designation issued April 15, 2023,
will remain in effect through December 31, 2026,
and expire on January 1, 2027.
4 11 Is there an appeal process
in the event an application
is denied? What is it?
No. Jurisdictions may either modify existing
applications or re-apply on an ongoing basis. The
PDP does not deny applications. Because the
program is administered on a rolling basis, HCD
will continue to work with applicants until they
have completed the application.
12 In Section 3 of the required
resolution, what is the intent
of the language referencing
general plan alignment with
a Sustainable Communities
Strategy pursuant to Public
Resources Code Sections
21155-21155.4 and
21159.28?
The referenced sections of the Public Resources
Code are CEQA streamlining provisions for
residential, mixed-used, and infill projects
established by SB 375. The “alignment” of local
general plans with a Sustainable Communities
Plan “pursuant to” these CEQA streamlining
provisions in the context of Prohousing Policies,
includes but is not limited to, reference to
jurisdictions facilitating the use of these
streamlining provisions when applicants with
qualifying residential and mixed-use projects
seek exemption for their projects.
The intent of this provision is to allow eligible
residential, mixed-use, and infill projects to take
advantage of SB 375’s CEQA streamlining
provisions that tier off Sustainable Communities
Strategies. The reference to “alignment” with a
Sustainable Communities Strategy does not
mean, and is not intended to suggest, that a local
government’s general plan must be consistent
with any specific part of an SCS or the SCS as a
whole, including with respect to local decisions
regarding the location and type of housing to
approve, as SB 375 itself expressly provides that
such consistency is not required.
5 PROHOUSING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Frequent
ly Asked Questions
The Cal
ifornia Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) strongly recommends applicants read and understand all relevant laws, guidelines, and the Notice of Funding Availability specific to the Prohousing Incentive Program.
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
1 What is the Prohousing
Incentive Program?
The Prohousing Incentive Program (PIP) is
intended to increase participation in HCD’s
Prohousing Designation Program (PDP) by
pairing the designation with an exclusive and
impactful award grant.
PIP is a state investment from the Building
Homes and Jobs Trust Fund, established by
Chapter 364, Statutes of 2017 (SB 2, Atkins), to
create and conserve affordable housing. HCD
will award PIP funds to eligible jurisdictions with
Prohousing Designation, with additional bonus
dollars available based on a jurisdiction’s
PDP application score.
2 Are there any changes in the
evaluation criteria for PIP
funding under the PDP
permanent regulations?
No, all jurisdictions with a Prohousing
Designation, whether designated under the
emergency regulations or the permanent
regulations, are eligible for PIP funding.
3 What is the timeline for the
new round of PIP applications?
The PIP NOFA, Guidelines, and application are
anticipated in August (all materials can be found
on the PIP webpage). The application deadline
for the NOFA is typically December 31
st.
PIP applicants do not need to have a
Prohousing Designation at the time of
application. Jurisdictions may submit a PIP
application either concurrently or after submitting
a PDP application. However, PIP applicants
must receive Prohousing Designation by
December 31st of each year in order to remain
6 eligible for PIP funds. If a jurisdiction has not
received a Prohousing Designation by
December 31st they will be ineligible for PIP but
may continue to pursue Prohousing Designation.
PIP Round 4 is expected to be released toward
the end of 2025.
4 What support or resources are
available to jurisdictions to
navigate the PIP application
process?
For technical assistance inquiries, please
contact [email protected].