Housing Element Update

Housing Element 2023-2031

As required by state law, the Housing Element includes an overview of housing policies and programs, and identifies sites that can accommodate future growth to meet the City's housing allocation needs. Over the past year, the City of East Palo Alto, its residents, and stakeholders have participated in outreach and engagement efforts for the Housing Element Update.

Substantial Compliance Letter and Adopted 2023-2031 Housing Element

On February 20, 2024, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) found the City's Revised Housing Element for 2023-2031, dated December 21, 2023, to be in substantial compliance with California’s Housing Element Law. While the City Council adopted the Housing Element on February 21, 2023, several items were later noted by HCD that required revisions to achieve a state-certified Housing Element. Staff engaged in productive discussions with HCD staff during the past year to produce a compliant Revised Housing Element. The Revised Housing Element is an amendment to the City's 2035 General Plan.

On March 11, 2024, the Planning Commission approved the General Plan Amendment findings and recommended that the City Council adopt the Draft Revised Housing Element to amend the 2023-2031 Housing Element in the General Plan. On March 19, 2024, the City Council adopted the Draft Revised Housing Element which amends and replaces the previously 2023-2031 Housing Element that was adopted by the City Council on February 21, 2023.

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The Housing Element document is very large and might take time to download. It is provided here in PDF format to help make it easier to access the information. Note: If a link does not work, please scroll down to the bottom of the page and find the relevant document under "Supporting Documents." 

Adopted Housing Element (March 19, 2024)

Adopted East Palo Alto Housing Element 2023-2031 (Full)

Draft Revised Housing Element (February 26, 2024)

How to Submit Input

All feedback is welcome. You can submit your input by:

Email to: housing@cityofepa.org. Please send email comments with the subject line "Housing Element."
Mail to: Housing and Economic Development Manager, City of East Palo Alto, Housing Division, 1960 Tate Street, East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Background

Every eight years, jurisdictions throughout California update their Housing Element. The Housing Element is a chapter of the city's General Plan that contains a plan for how to meet the City's housing production target (Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or RHNA) housing policies and programs to meet the community's housing need. The Housing Element update is a multi-year community process. The Housing Element update takes place in parallel with each new RHNA cycle, a timeframe that starts when jurisdictions receive their state-mandated RHNA allocation. To view the City's previous 2025–2023 Housing Element (for the RHNA 5 cycle), click here. The new RHNA cycle, RHNA Cycle 6, began in 2023.

BACKGROUND & STAFF REPORTS

City Council Staff report - 21 Elements Presentation and RHNA Introduction
What Is a Housing Element, and How Does It Work?
¿Qué es el Elemento de Vivienda y Cómo Funciona? (en español)
Let's Talk Housing (en español)
2021 Annual Progress Report; City Council Staff Report on Housing Element APR
2022 Annual Progress Report; City Council Staff Report on Housing Element APR
2023 Annual Progress Report; City Council Staff Report on Housing Element APR

Get Involved

STAY UPDATED

Join the City's email list for all Housing Element-related events and materials here!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Access public meetings at: www.cityofepa.org/citycouncil/page/agenda-and-minutes.

PAST EVENTS AND MEETINGS

Access past public meetings at: http://eastpaloalto.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx.

City Council Public Hearing for Adoption – March 19, 2024 (2023-2031 Housing Element Final Adoption)
Planning Commission Public Hearing – March 11, 2024
City Council Public Hearing - February 21, 2023 (2023-2031 Housing Element Adoption)
Planning Commission Public Hearing - February 9, 2023
Planning Commission Meeting - January 23, 2023
City Council Meeting - July 19, 2022
Planning Commission Meeting - July 11, 2022
Farmer's Market Outreach - June 8, 2022 from 9am-1pm and June 15 from 9am-11am, in-person [English & Spanish]
Community Meeting- May 5, 2022 at 6-8pm, in-person & virtually [English, Spanish & Tongan]
- To view the presentation in English and Spanish, CLICK HERE. To view the presentation in Tongan and Samoan, CLICK HERE
San Mateo County Equity Advisory Group Meeting - May 2, 2022 at 11am
City Council & Planning Commission Joint Study Session - April 26, 2022 at 6pm [English & Español]
City Council Consent Calendar Item - March 15, 2022
Planning Commission Meeting - March 14, 2022
Community Meeting – February 24, 2022 at 6-8pm [English & Español]
Community Meeting – July 19, 2021 at 6-7:30pm
Let's Talk Housing! held a 4-part webinar series in San Mateo County.
Community Meeting with East Palo Alto, Millbrae and Burlingame hosted by 21 Elements – May 6, 2021
- Why Affordable Housing Matters – October 13, 2021 at 6pm
- Housing and Racial Equity – October 27, 2021 at 6pm
- Housing in a Climate of Change – November 10, 2021 at 6pm
- Putting it All Together for a Better Future – December 1, 2021 at 6pm

RECORDED PAST MEETINGS

Slides are also available in the "Supporting Documents" below.

SURVEYS

East Palo Alto Balancing Act. A housing simulation tool, to provide your input on the location of potential housing sites to be included in the 2023-2031 Housing Element. Watch a video tutorial on how to use this simulation tool by clicking here. Now closed.
Survey - Policies & Programs | *Encuesta - Políticas y Programas (en español). Ahora cerrado.
Survey - Jamboard. Now closed.
Survey - San Mateo County Fair Housing. Now closed.
Survey Results - San Mateo County Fair Housing. Now Closed