Housing Element Update

Current Status (updated July 30, 2025): 

The City Council adopted a revised 2023-2031 Housing Element on March 24, 2025. The revised Housing Element can be found under “Housing Element Update” at https://www.planpacifica.org/project-docs. Prior to adoption, on March 19, 2024, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) found the updated Housing Element met the statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law pending adoption of the revised Housing Element (which was adopted March 24, 2025) and completion of a “rezoning program” as outlined in Housing Element Program HE-I-1.  

The rezoning program consists of updates to the text and maps of the City’s General Plan and zoning code, and are scheduled to be considered by the City Council on August 11, 2025. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning program, with some modifications, at a public hearing held on May 19, 2025, June 2, 2025, and July 7, 2025. The zoning and land use updates are intended to remove the final barrier to State certification of the Housing Element by ensuring the sites on the housing element site inventory have the capacity for the number of units indicated in the Housing Element and satisfy any other requirements of state law.  

An Environmental Impact Report was also prepared to evaluate the proposed rezoning under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). More information and CEQA documents are available under “Housing Element Targeted General Plan Amendments, Rezoning, and Objective Development Standards Program” at

https://www.planpacifica.org/project-docs  

PROJECT HISTORY

The City Council adopted an earlier draft of 2023-2031 Housing Element on January 22, 2024. The draft incorporated significant revisions to reflect direction from the City Council and Planning Commission, address comments from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and address comments from community members.  

HCD provided formal written comments on March 29, 2024, listing changes needed for HCD to deem the Housing Element compliant and additional Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing comments on October 15, 2024.  

Between March 2024 and March 2025, the City proactively coordinated with HCD staff on draft refinements required for certification and incorporated revisions to the Housing Element that was considered and adopted on March 24, 2025.  

The Housing Element Update process was initiated in 2022 and included multiple in person and online community meetings, surveys, and public meetings. Results of these activities, along with prior drafts of the Housing Element can be found under “Housing Element Update” at https://www.planpacifica.org/project-docs   

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ABOUT THE HOUSING ELEMENT

The Housing Element is a major part of Pacifica's General Plan. The other eight elements of the Pacifica General Plan were updated in 2022 and, together with the Housing Element, the General Plan comprises a policy document mandated by State law to address issues related to physical development and conservation of resources.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Housing Element is mandated by State law to be updated every eight years and certified by California’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Each jurisdiction in California receives a target number of homes to plan for called the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or RHNA. On December 16, 2021, Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Executive Board conducted a public hearing and adopted the Final RHNA Plan. The total Regional Housing Needs Determination (RHND) for the Bay Area in the 2023-2031 period is 441,176 units. Pacifica’s RHNA for the 2023-2031 period is 1,892 residential units (compared to 413 the previous housing element period).

The updated Housing Element will serve as the Pacifica’s housing plan for the next eight years (2023-2031). The Update Process is an important opportunity for residents and community members to come together to assess housing needs, identify policy and resource priorities, and find solutions to implement a wide range of housing choices. The plan contains goals, policies, and programs that will guide the City’s decision-making around the development and rehabilitation of housing.

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