A city (or county) is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims

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Completeness Checklist
Local agency staff can use the following checklist to help ensure that the housing element addresses all required issues. Please 
note that use of this checklist is advisory, and only contains issues that are legally required in 
Government Code section 65583
. 
Housing elements may include additional content at the discretion of the local jurisdiction. For example, the housing element 
is well suited to address requirements related to environmental justice and disadvantaged unincorporated communities. Because 
general plan formats may vary, this checklist suggests identifying where the particular government code provision is satisfied.
Statutory Citation
Brief Description of Requirement
Gov. Code §65583(c)(8)
Public Participation: description of diligent effort to include all economic segments of the community 
Gov. Code §65588
Review and Revise:
      • Progress in implementation 
      • Effectiveness of the element  
      • Appropriateness of goals- objectives, policies and programs 
Gov. Code §65583(a)(1 and 2)
Housing Needs Assessment: Quantification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs Populations 
and employment trends, including documentation of projections Housing and Household characteristics, includ-
ing; 
      • Level of payment compared with ability to pay (overpaying households) 
      • Housing stock conditions 
      • Overcrowded households  Existing and projected needs for all income levels, including: 
      • Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) 
      • Existing housing need for extremely low income households 
      • Projected housing need for extremely low income households based on RHNA or Census 
Gov. Code §65583(a)(7)
Persons with Special Needs: Identification and analysis of any special housing needs including:  
      • Elderly 
      • Persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities 
      • Large Households 
      • Farmworkers (seasonal and permanent) 
      • Female headed households 
      • Homeless (annual and seasonal) 
      • Other
Gov. Code §65583(a)(9)
At-risk Units: Inventory of at-risk units (10 years from the housing element due date) 
      • Estimate of replacement versus preservation costs  
      • Identification of qualified entities  
      • Identification of potential funding
Gov. Code §65583(a)(5 and 6) Potential Governmental Constraints: Include an analysis of actual and potential governmental constraints for 
each of the following: 
     • Land use controls 
     • Building codes and their enforcement 
     • Site improvement requirements  
     • Fees and other exactions 
     • Local processing and permit procedures 
     • Housing for persons with disabilities  
     • Transitional housing and supportive housing as a residential use of property and subject only to those      
        restrictions that apply to other residential dwelli ngs of the same type in the same zone
Gov. Code §65583(a)(5 and 6) Potential Non-governmental Constraints Include an analysis of actual and potential non-governmental con-
straints for each of the following: 
     • Availability of financing 
     • Price of land 
     • Cost of construction

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Statutory Citation
Brief Description of Requirement
Gov. Code §65583 (a) (3) and 
65583.2
Sites Inventory and Analysis: 
     • Listing of properties by parcel number or other unique reference showing for each parcel 
     • General description of environmental constraints to the development of housing 
     • General description of infrastructure (planned/available) including water, sewer and other dry utilities,
        including availability and access to distribution facilities 
     • For Non-vacant sites, specify the additional development potential for each site within the planning period
        and provide an explanation of the methodology to determine development potential 
     • Demonstration of zoning to accommodate the housing need for lower income households 
     • Map of sites included in the inventory 
     • Number of units built between the start of the projection period and the deadline for adoption of the
        housing element (optional) 
     • Number of units proposed using alternative provisions such as rehabilitation, conversion, preservation or
        accessory dwelling units (optional) 
     • Analysis of whether inventory provides for a variety of housing types (Multifamily rental housing, 
        Factory-built housing, Mobile homes, Housing for agricultural employees, Emergency Shelters, Transitional
        and supportive housing) 
     • Carryover obligation (AB 1233), if applicable
Gov. Code §65583(b) and (c)
(1 through 6)
Quantified Objectives and Housing Programs: Provide statement of quantified objectives; Maximum number of 
units, by income group, including extremely low-income of: 
     • New construction; 
     • Rehabilitation; and 
     • Conservation.
Gov. Code §65583(c)
Include programs with: 
     • Schedule of specific actions; and 
     • Timeline for implementation with a beneficial impact in the planning period; and Identification of agencies
        and officials responsible for implementing each program.
Gov. Code §65583(c)(1)
Program(s) providing adequate sites: 
     • Programs to rezone and any other programs needed to address a shortfall of sites to accommodate the
        regional housing need, if applicable, and any programs included pursuant to Section 65583.2(h) and (i) or
        carryover obligation pursuant to Section 65584.09. 
     • Programs to rezone and any other programs needed to address a shortfall of capacity for housing for
        farmworkers that could not be accommodated on sites identified in the inventory, if applicable.     
     • If applicable, programs to facilitate a variety of housing types, including multifamily rental, factory-built
        housing, mobile homes, housing for agricultural employees, supportive housing, single room occupancy,
        emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing.
Gov. Code §65583(c)(2)
Programs to assist in the development of housing for extremely low, very low, low and moderate income house-
holds.
Gov. Code §65583(c)(3)
Programs to address governmental constraints and where appropriate and legally possible, to remove con-
straints to the maintenance, improvement and development of housing.
Gov. Code §65583(c)(3)
Program to remove constraints on housing for persons with disabilities and provide reasonable accommodation 
for housing for persons with disabilities.
Gov. Code §65583(c)(4)
Program(s) to conserve and improve the condition of the existing affordable housing stock.
Gov. Code §65583(c)(5)
Program(s) to promote housing opportunities for all persons.
Gov. Code §65583(c)(6)
Program(s) to preserve at-risk units.
Other Requirements
Gov. Code §65583 (c) (7)
Description of general plan consistency.
Gov. Code §65585
Review by HCD and legislative body.
Gov. Code §65588
Analysis of construction, demolition and conversion of housing for lower income households in the Coastal Zone.
Gov. Code §65583 (a) (8)
Description of opportunities for energy conservation in residential development.
Gov. Code §65589.7
Water and Sewer Priority See the HCD Memo at 
http://www.hcd.ca.gov/hpd/memo_sb1087.pdf
. *
Gov. Code §65589.5
Housing accountability act; analysis for rejection.

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