Housing Element (2023-2031)

The Housing Element establishes goals, policies, and programs to facilitate and encourage the provision of safe, adequate housing for its current and future residents of all income levels.

The purposes of the Housing Element are to:
1. Provide adequate housing sites;
2. Assist in the development of affordable housing;
3. Remove governmental and other constraints to housing development;
4. Promote equal housing opportunities; and
5. Encourage efficient use of land and energy resources in residential development.

HCD Certified

HCD Certified 6^th Cycle Housing Element (2023-2031)

On June 27, 2023, the City Council adopted the Housing Element and considered the initial set of Housing Element Implementation programs including changes to the City’s Land Use and Development Code. The Council approved the first reading of the ordinance; the ordinance received a second reading on July 25, 2023 and went into effect on August 25, 2023.

On September 18, 2023, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) determined that the City of Vacaville’s 6^th Cycle (2023-2031) Adopted Housing Element is in substantial compliance with the State Housing Law.

Housing Element

What is the Housing Element?

The Housing Element is one of seven mandatory elements, or chapters, of the City of Vacaville’s General Plan. The Housing Element outlines goals, policies, implementation programs, and quantified objectives that will help the City plan for the housing needs for all segments of the City’s population. It also functions as a plan to meet the City’s regional housing needs allocation (RHNA), described in more detail below.

State law mandates that local governments adequately plan to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community. Unlike other mandatory General Plan elements, the Housing Element is required to be updated every eight years and must be reviewed and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In addition to preparing an update to the Housing Element every eight years, the City is required to report annually on the implementation of the Housing Element through a State-mandated Housing Element Annual Progress Report (APR).The City of Vacaville APRs for the current Housing Element cycle (2015-2022) can be found here along with the City’s Annual Status of the General Plan reports: Annual Status of the General Plan

What's included in the Housing Element?

Housing Needs Assessment: Analysis of existing and projected housing needs.

Fair Housing Assessment: Identifies fair housing issues and strategies to address any barriers to fair housing.

Housing Sites Inventory: Inventory of land to accommodate new housing units.

Constraints Analysis: Analysis of potential constraints to housing (i.e., Permit processing procedures, fees, etc.)

Evaluation of Past Performance: Evaluates implementation progress on the past Housing Element housing programs

Goals, Policies, and Programs: Includes new housing programs to comply with state law and reflect the plan for accommodating the community’s housing needs.

What is the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)

What is the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)?

The Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is the number of housing units the State has determined to be the City’s “fair share” of housing that is needed to meet California’s housing needs this Housing Element cycle (2023-2031).

The City is required to plan for these housing units based on affordability levels. The housing affordability levels are based on a household of four making a specified percentage of Solano County’s Area Median Income (AMI). In 2021, the Solano County AMI was $99,300. The City must plan for housing units and housing programs to provide housing that is affordable to the following housing incomes. The Solano County AMI is updated annually by HCD, Current data can be found here: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/income-limits/state-and-federal-income-rent-and-loan-value-limits

Income	4-Person Household, income range	RHNA
Very Low Income - Less than (>) 50% of AMI	$49,650 or less	677
Low Income - 51-80% of AMI	$50,643 to $79,440	404
Moderate Income - 81-120% of AMI	$80,433 to 119,160	409
Above Moderate Income - More than 120% of AMI	More than $119,160	1,105
Total		2,595

Must we build ALL?

Housing Strategy

The City of Vacaville (City) retained the consulting team comprising Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS) and PlaceWorks (EPS Team) to prepare a strategy to address current and future housing needs in the City. The EPS Team conducted several technical analyses, including a socioeconomic context assessment and residential market demand study, and engaged the community using a robust public involvement approach, culminating in a series of recommended strategies to meet the community’s housing objectives. This housing analysis and strategy (Study) was developed during a similar timeframe as the Housing Element, which is being prepared by PlaceWorks for the General Plan and is meant to be used as a resource that can help inform both the community and the Housing Element. The Housing Analysis and Strategy Study can be viewed at the following link: Housing Analysis and Strategy Study.

Progress Reports

Since 1969, California has required that all local governments (cities and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. California’s local governments meet this requirement by adopting housing plans (aka housing elements) as part of their “general plan” (also required by the state). General plans serve as the local government’s "blueprint" for how the city and/or county will grow and develop and include seven elements: land use, transportation, conservation, noise, open space, safety, and housing.

Each jurisdiction (city council or board of supervisors) must prepare an annual progress report (APR) on the jurisdiction’s status and progress in implementing its housing element using forms and definitions adopted by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). (Government Code Section 65400.) Each jurisdiction’s APR must be submitted to HCD and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) by April 1 of each year (covering the previous calendar year (CY).

If you have any questions, please contact Peyman Behvand, Planning Manager, at (707) 449-5332 or at peyman.behvand @cityofvacaville.com.

2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report

2022 Housing Element Annual Progress Report

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing in California (AFFH)

The Housing Element is required to address, combat, and relieve disparities resulting from past patterns of segregation to foster fair housing and more inclusive communities. The Housing Element includes a chapter entitled “Affirmatively Forwarding Fair Housing” that examines existing and future policies, plans, programs, rules, practices, and related activities and makes proactive changes to promote more inclusive communities.

AFFH, State website AB 68 - Housing Discrimination

Solano County Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Housing Element Collaborative

The City of Vacaville partnered with the Solano County Regional Early Action Planning Housing Element Collaborative to help prepare specific chapters of the Housing Element pertaining to countywide demographics.

Solano County REAP Housing Element Collaborative consists of the cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo, and the County of Solano. Every jurisdiction in the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is currently updating their individual 2023- 2031 Housing Element, as well as their individual Safety Elements. As a part of the Housing Element update process, the Solano County Collaborative prepared a regional Housing Needs Assessment and a regional Assessment of Fair Housing.

City of Vacaville - Public Outreach

Solano County Housing Element Collaborative - Public Outreach

Vacaville, CA

Popular Content

Community Development

Housing Element (2023-2031)

The Housing Element establishes goals, policies, and programs to facilitate and encourage the provision of safe, adequate housing for its current and future residents of all income levels.

HCD Certified 6^th Cycle Housing Element (2023-2031)

What is the Housing Element?

What is the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)?

Is the City required to build all the housing units allocated in the RHNA?

2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report

2022 Housing Element Annual Progress Report

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing in California (AFFH)

City of Vacaville RHNA Informational Meeting

City Council and Vacaville Planning Commission - Study Session

Housing Element Workshop

Housing Needs Assessment Findings

Fair Housing Workshop