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6th Cycle Draft Housing Element 

In response to the State’s comment letter and stakeholder feedback on Irvine’s 6th Cycle draft Housing Element for the 2021-2029 period (dated August 19, 2021), the revised draft is available below. The draft update accommodates the City’s total 23,610-unit Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation, a State mandate, and includes a comprehensive plan of housing goals, policies, and programs consistent with State Housing Element laws.  

View the revised draft below and submit any comments or questions to the City of Irvine’s Community Development Department at 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606. Comments and questions may also be sent via email at GPUpdate@cityofirvine.org or phone at 949-724-6395. 

2021-2029 Draft Housing Element Sections:
(revised with redlines, November 19, 2021) 

1) Housing Element - No Appendices
2) Appendix A: Public Engagement
3) Appendix A: Public Engagement (updated Section A-S, December 16, 2021)
4) Appendix B: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Analysis
5) Appendix C: Senate Bill 2 Compliance Sites Inventory
6) Appendix D: Sites Inventory Form 

Please click here for past versions of the draft Housing Element Update document. 

Notice of Intent to Adopt an Initial Study/Negative Declaration

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration (IS/ND) is being circulated for a 30-day public review period as follows: November 15, 2021, and ends on December 15, 2021. All written comments on the Draft IS/ND must be received by the close of business on the December 15, 2021, and can be emailed and/or mailed to: 

Melissa Chao, Senior Planner 
City of Irvine, Community Development Department 
One Civic Center Plaza 
Irvine, CA 92606 
mchao@cityofirvine.org

Following the close of the public review period, the Community Development Department will incorporate responses to comments received and prepare a Final IS/ND. The Final IS/ND and the Housing Element Update will be considered by the Planning Commission and City Council at noticed public hearings anticipated in December 2021 and January 2022. 

Notice of Intent 

Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration 

Response to Comments for Draft IS/ND Comments

Final Initial Study/Negative Declaration with Notice of Determination

The Housing Element Update

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.