*To translate this page in another language, hover over "translate" in the red bar at the top of the page, and click your preferred language. For the best experience, please use either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge as your browser. Internet Explorer does not support the translate function.*

On May 24, 2022, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) certified the City of Irvine 2021-2029 Housing Element. The 2021-2029 Housing Element was adopted by the City Council, January 11, 2022 and the amended adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element was adopted by the City Council May 10, 2022. The certification letter and the final 2021-2029 Housing Element are posted below.

HCD Certification Letter
Final 2021-2029 Housing Element
2023 Annual Progress Report

What is a Housing Element?

The Housing Element is Irvine’s “housing plan” and a required chapter in the General Plan. Irvine, along with all California cities and counties, is required to adequately plan and meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. All cities and counties are required to update their Housing Element every eight years for State certification. For reference, the current 5th cycle Housing Element is available here.

What does the State require?

The upcoming October 2021 through October 2029 Housing Element is the sixth update to the Housing Element and is referred to as the 6th Cycle Housing Element. In the update, the City must identify enough potentially developable land suitable for residential use (i.e., site inventory) to meet Irvine’s new Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation.

To accomplish this, the Housing Element must provide goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs demonstrating how Irvine will meet its existing and future housing needs for all income levels. The Housing Element must also address recent housing legislation adopted in response to the state’s housing crisis.

Although the City does not build the housing, the Housing Element does create a plan and regulatory framework, which provides opportunities for the private sector to do so, where market conditions determine when and where housing is built.

For additional information and resources about the Housing Element, visit California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) website at www.hcd.ca.gov.
 

​How You Can Get Involved 

Meetings and Notices for Public HEU Adoption Hearings:

Past Meetings 

Click here for more past meetings, including the City Council Scoping Session, Planning Commission Study Session, and Community Workshops. 

Share Your Feedback

Click Here to Comment  

The update process includes a variety of opportunities for the community to be involved (i.e., see activities in bold below). Below is the anticipated project time line:  
 

Anticipated Project Timeline 

Winter 2021
  • Introduction to the Irvine HEU: 
    • City Council General Plan Amendment Scoping Session – scheduled February 9, 2021
    • Planning Commission Study Session – scheduled February 18, 2021 
  •  Stakeholder outreach
  • Develop site inventory
  • Assess and develop draft HEU goals, policies, and objectives
  • Develop draft implementation program
Spring 2021
  • Community workshops
  • Stakeholder outreach
  • Finalize site inventory
  • Prepare draft HEU and environmental review for CEQA
Summer/Fall 2021
  • Planning Commission Review
  • HCD pre-submittal review of draft HEU
  • Public review of draft HEU and CEQA documentation
  • Finalize HEU and CEQA documentation
Winter 2021/2022

Adoption hearings:

  • Planning Commission
  • City Council
State Due Date October 15, 2021 for certification
(120 day grace period allowed – February 11, 2022)

SUBSCRIBE TO IRVINE – HOUSING ELEMENT AND GENERAL PLAN UPDATE ANNOUNCEMENTS