Housing Element Update

Every eight years, the City is required to update the Housing Element of its General Plan in order to, among other things, comply with State requirements and identify sufficient suitable sites for the housing needs of the community as projected by the State and allocated by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The City’s Housing Element was last updated in 2013 and expired in October 2021 at the conclusion of the previous eight year state housing cycle (2013-2021).

The California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) is responsible for developing state housing production goals with the total number of housing units to be built within an eight-year housing cycle for varying income categories. This process is referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Once the RHNA is determined, HCD assigns the RHNA figures to SCAG, who in turn assign the housing goals to their respective member cities and counties. The process began with SCAG in the summer of 2019, HCD provided SCAG a final RHNA allocation for the region in early 2020 and the distribution of the RHNA to Cities was approved by SCAG in early September 2020. The City's Final RHNA Allocation, received once all appeals were considered by SCAG in early 2021, is at total of 3,043 planned dwelling units spread across four income categories for the 2021-2029 cycle.

On June 6, 2023 the City Council adopted the Housing Element Update, here is the adopted version for review:

Sections 1-4 Introduction, Community Profile, Housing Constraints, Resources, AFFH and Housing Plan

Appendices A-D Past Performance, Adequate Sites, Community Outreach and Glossary

As directed by the City Council, a Notice of Exemption was filed pursuant to CEQA.

The City has begun initial work on the implementation of items related to the Housing Element Update, including Policy Action 1-9 in the Housing Plan for changes to the Development Code in an Electric Vehicle and Housing Element Implementation Ordinance which was presented to the Planning Commission July 26, 2023 and is being presented to the City Council October 17, 2023.

In coordination with HCD on the final review, the City revised the Housing Element Update Section 3 and Section 4 a final time during HCD's review in May 2023, review the final versions here:

Section 3 Housing Constraints Resources AFFH May 2023 Final

Section 4 Housing Plan May 2023 Final

The City revised the Housing Element Update in February 2023 based on HCD's final comment letter received at the beginning of the year, click below for the latest update on each section and appendices:

Table of Contents

Section 1 Introduction

Section 2 Community Profile

Section 3 Housing Constraints Resources AFFH

Section 4 Housing Plan

Appendix A Review of Past Performance

Appendix B Adequate Sites

Appendix C Community Engagement Outreach

Appendix D Glossary of Terms

The City resubmitted to HCD in November 2022 and received a final comment letter from HCD on January 6, 2023

In December 2022 the City met with HCD regarding comments and the following draft has been revised consistent with HCD's comments at the time, click below for each section and the appendices:

Section 1 Introduction

Section 2 Community Profile

Section 3 Housing Constraints Resources AFFH

Section 4 Housing Plan

Appendix A Review of Past Performance

Appendix B Adequate Sites

Appendix C Community Engagement Outreach

Appendix D Glossary of Terms

The City resubmitted to HCD on April 5, 2022 and received a comment letter from HCD June 02, 2022.

The City's Draft Housing Element has been revised in September 2022 in accordance with the June 2022 comment letter for resubmittal to HCD, see the following table for the revisions:

The City resubmitted to HCD on October 15, 2021 and received a comment letter from HCD December 14, 2021.

The City's Draft Housing Element has been revised in February 2022 in accordance with the December 2021 comment letter for resubmittal to HCD, to review click here for the draft with changes shown for resubmittal.

The City submitted the project to HCD on July 2, 2021 and received a comment letter from HCD August 31, 2021.

The City's Draft Housing Element has been revised in accordance with HCD's comment letter, and was resubmitted to HCD on October 15, 2021. The revised draft is available for public review here:

The revised draft was considered by the Planning Commission at the October 27, 2021 Planning Commission Meeting and recommended to the City Council to adopt.  Staff is preparing the item for City Council consideration at a future meeting early in 2022.

The City's previous July Draft Housing Element is available for reference:

The City circulated the draft Housing Element Update for a 30 day public review and comment period for responsible agencies, interested organizations and members of the public from May 21, 2021 to June 21, 2021.  The final public workshop was held during public review at the City Hall Council Chamber on June 14, 2021.  Public hearings for a recommendation on project at the Planning Commission and adoption of the element the City Council are anticipated in October for Planning Commission and January for City Council and will be further noticed.  You may continue to submit comments on the update by clicking here. 

Comments may be submitted at the link above, or by mail to the City of Murrieta Housing Element Update, Attn: Carl Stiehl, 1 Town Square, Murrieta, CA 92562 or by email at  [email protected]