General Plan Housing Element

Housing Element 2021-2029

The Housing Element is a State-mandated document that is part of the General Plan and contains analysis, policies, and programs with the objective to preserve, improve and promote housing for all economic segments of the community. The Housing Element implements the declaration of State law that “the availability of housing is a matter of vital statewide importance and the attainment of decent housing and a suitable living environment for all Californians is a priority of the highest order” (Gov. § Code 65580). 

The City of Ventura is required to update the Housing Element every eight years with the current program to cover the period from 2021 through 2029 (6th Cycle). All California cities and counties are required to plan for their share of regional housing needs. Every eight years, this assignment is determined through the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) determines the share of the state’s housing need for each region based off population projections prepared by the California Department of Finance and other factors identified in housing law. In turn, the Council of Governments for each region allocates to each local jurisdiction its share of the regional housing need. In southern California, the region’s COG is the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The City of Ventura’s RHNA allocation for the 2021-2029 planning period is 5,310 new residential units.

Each city in the State of California is required to have their Housing Element certified by the State of California. 

Housing Element non-compliance and not meeting RHNA requirements may bring about a number of consequences for a local jurisdiction. A city with a non-certified Housing Element has limited access to State funding programs and grants. 

A city with a non-certified Housing Element also opens itself up for litigation. Several potential consequences include:

  • Mandatory compliance – The court may order the community to bring the Housing Element into compliance within 120 days.
  • Suspension of local control on building matters  – The court may suspend the locality’s authority to issue building permits or grant zoning changes, variances, or subdivision map approvals.
  • Court approval of housing developments – The court may step in and approve housing projects.

January 31, 2022 Adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element

On January 31, 2022, the City Council adopted its 2021-2029 General Plan Housing Element and 2021-2029 Technical Background Report. The City of Ventura submitted the 6th cycle Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in February 2022 for their review. 

First Round of Comments from HCD (April 22, 2022)

On April 22, 2022 a comment letter was received from HCD. The City made modifications to the 6th cycle Housing Element in response to HCD’s comments and submitted to HCD for review on January 17, 2023: 

Second Round of Comments from HCD (March 17, 2023) 

HCD reviewed the January 2023 revised Housing Element and provided additional comments to the City on March 17, 2023. The City made further modifications to the 6th cycle Housing Element in response to HCD's comments which are shown in highlighted blue text. As required by State law, the 6th Cycle Housing Element modified to include HCD's 2nd round of comments was posted online for a 7 day public comment period (Tuesday, May 2 - Wednesday, May 10) . The revised documents were submitted to HCD for review on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

If you would like to receive updates on the 6th Cycle Housing Element, please subscribe on our notify me page here: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/list.aspx

Housing Element Readoption  

HCD reviewed the May 11, 2023 submittal of the revised Housing Element and notified the City on June 22, 2023 that the Housing Element is in compliance with State law. A comment letter was provided was provided that included a request to add findings in the adopted resolution to demonstrate that an impediment to affordable housing development is not created by using nonvacant sites to accommodate more than 50 percent of the RHNA for lower-income households.

The Housing Element is being brought back through the hearing process for readoption. The Housing Element is scheduled for the July 26, 2023 Planning Commission meeting and tentatively scheduled for City Council consideration at the August 7, 2023 City Council meeting pending Planning Commission’s review.

Public comment on the Housing Element can be provided through the following options:

If you would like to receive updates on the 6th Cycle Housing Element, please subscribe on our notify me page here: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/list.aspx

Housing Element 2014-2021 Annual Progress Reports

The City reports annually on the implementation of the Housing Element for the previous year. The Annual Progress Report covers housing units produced for very-low, low, and moderate-income households, as well as above-moderate income (market-rate) housing.

2022 Annual Progress Report
2021 Annual Progress Report
2020 Annual Progress Report
2019 Annual Progress Report
2018 Annual Progress Report
2017 Annual Progress Report
2016 Annual Progress Report
2015 Annual Progress Report
2014 Annual Progress Report 

In addition, Senate Bill 244 required the City to evaluate unincorporated Saticoy: Feasibility Study.

The 2015 Update of the Housing Element Land Inventory (HELI) lists all vacant or underutilized parcels in the City.