Planning and Environmental Review

The State requires that cities and counties update their Housing Elements regularly according to a legally mandated schedule set by the State. On March 8, 2022, Sacramento County’s Board of Supervisors adopted the Housing Element Update for the 2021–2029 eight-year planning period. On March 10, the County submitted the adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for HCD’s final review and certification.  On May 9, 2022, HCD provided the County with a letter affirming the County’s Housing Element Update for the 2021 – 2029 eight-year planning period (May 15, 2021 to May 15, 2029) has been found in full conformance with State Housing Element law.

On August 20, 2024, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved Program A1, Countywide Rezone Program to address a shortfall of 3,215 lower income units to meet the lower-income Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 7,158 units that was identified in the 2021-2029 Housing Element. The Countywide Rezone Program rezoned 74 sites creating capacity for an additional 4,803 lower-income units and 237 moderate-income units, addressing the shortfall and establishing a substantial buffer.

The County now seeks to incorporate the Countywide Rezone Program into the Housing Element through a targeted mid-cycle amendment.

The Draft Housing Element Amendment is now available for a 7-day public review period per California Government Code § 65585 (see documents section below for amended portions of the Housing Element). The 7-day public review period concludes on October 30, 2025. The County’s Housing Element Update team can make staff available for meetings with interested parties. 

Given the targeted nature of the amendment, review and comments should be focused on the incorporation of Program A1, Countywide Rezone Program, into the Housing Element rather than the whole of the Housing Element. The majority of additive analysis is located in the newly created Appendix E and planning staff has summarized the full scope of changes in the Amendment 1 Errata sheet included below.

Once the 7-day public review period ends, and responses to received comments are complete, the County will submit the proposed Housing Element Amendment to Housing and Community Development (HCD) for review and certification. 

To ensure that your comments are included in the Housing Element Amendment, comments must be submitted by October 30, 2025. The County will continue to accept comments after this date and incorporate them within our Hearing Body Materials as applicable. See below for anticipated dates for public hearing. Please note these dates are subject to change. 

To submit comments or questions on the Housing Element Amendment, or to be added to the project email list, please contact:

Planning and Environmental Review

827 7th Street, Room 225

Sacramento, CA 95814

ATTN: Long Range Planning