Oakland Becomes First Bay Area City Deemed “Pro-Housing”

Oakland is the only Bay Area city that the state has officially deemed “pro-housing.”

Oakland, Citrus Heights, Fontana, Roseville, San Diego, and West Sacramento join Sacramento as the only cities in California to have earned the pro-housing designation from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, the San Francisco Business Times reported.

The declaration gives cities preference in competition for existing state grants for issues such as housing and infrastructure. It also qualifies them for funding made available through the Pro-Housing Incentive Pilot Program, the launch of which was announced by the HCD on Dec. 15. The program will make $25.7 million in funding available specifically to cities that have secured pro-housing status, the department said.

“As promised, the state is ready and willing to award grants to pro-housing cities with the new Pro-Housing Incentive Pilot Program,” Gustavo Velasquez, HCD director, said in a statement, adding the incentives would “help get smart planning over the finish line.”

The announcement makes Oakland the first Bay Area jurisdiction to receive the title. Among the others that are trying to achieve this designation are: San Mateo and Sonoma counties, Sunnyvale, Larkspur and San Francisco, which submitted its application Nov. 7. Applications submitted by each of those jurisdictions are currently under review, according to the HCD’s website.

The Newsom administration started recognizing cities as “pro housing” in the 2019-2020 fiscal year as part of an effort to incentivize local jurisdictions to implement policies favorable to the more efficient approval and production of climate-friendly housing.

Oakland has worked to streamline environmental review by implementing neighborhood-specific plans; made investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; and implemented a ministerial program for accessory dwelling units, according to the Business Times.
Other qualifying jurisdictions have taken steps such as reducing impact fees for infill development, implemented local-level density bonus plans or removed constraints such as parking minimums.