Housing

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Housing Element

The Housing Element is a policy guide that provides an indication of the need for housing in the community and serves as a set of strategies to address those needs across the socioeconomic spectrum of City residents. Identified within the Housing Element are six overarching goals:

Provide affordable housing.
Maintain and enhance the quality of the housing stock and residential neighborhoods.
Encourage a diverse housing stock to address the needs of all socioeconomic segments of the community.
Provide for adequate opportunities for new construction of housing, including using an increase of density as a tool to incentivize development.
Provide for a government environment that facilitates housing development and preservation.
Affirmatively furthering fair housing for all.

To view implementation progress of the 116 actions of the 6th Cycle Housing Element, click through the below dashboard or visit the public dashboard page.

Cities and Counties are required by State law to update their housing elements every eight years as part of a jurisdiction's General Plan. The Housing Element Update for the 6th Cycle, which covers the 8-year planning period from 2021-2029, was recently adopted by City Council on February 21, 2023 and found in compliance by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as of April 28, 2023.

Housing Element Documents:

To ensure that housing goals of the most current Housing Element are being met, the City provides an Annual Progress Report (APR) to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and Governor's Office of Planning and Research pursuant to state law. The Housing Element APR aggregates data on certain housing metrics, such as dwelling units approved and permitted, so that the City is on track to the meet the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) of the City.

To track the City's RHNA progress, please see the City's Housing Progress Dashboard and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports below:

Housing Policy Initiatives & Programs

Production of Housing

The City of West Hollywood is a dynamic community with extensive and changing housing needs. Providing suitable housing for families requires a diversification of the City's housing stock and strategies for production. Through new construction, the City will facilitate a range of housing options to meet the varied needs of all residents.

Active Programs Include:

ADU Regulations
- The City Council updated portions of the Zoning Ordinance (Title 19) of the West Hollywood Municipal Code regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) in response to recent changes in state law and to clarify existing regulations.
- Staff Report
- Minutes (Approval of Urgency Ordinance No. 23-01U as Item 3.B.)
Replacement of Above Lower-Income Protected Units
- Planning Commission made a recommendation to the City Council proposing a zone text amendment to update replacement requirements of above lower-protected units in new housing projects.
- Staff Report
- Resolution
Inclusionary Ordinance
- The City is working to revise its Inclusionary Ordinance (West Hollywood Municipal Code 19.22.030) to address market rate versus affordable square footage in multifamily projects.

Preservation of Existing Housing

Approximately 93% of the City's housing stock is at least 30 years of age, a threshold when housing generally shows signs of aging. Strategies to address the aging housing stock include exploring incentives, financial and technical assistance, and monitoring efforts to facilitate rehabilitation of the City's aging housing stock. In addition, strategies will address rental housing at risk of being removed from the rental market or occupied as unintended.

Active Programs Include:

Mid-term Leases for Single-Family Residential and Condominiums
- - The Planning Commission Long Range Planning Projects Subcommittee provided input on the consideration of "mid-stay" leases. Staff will be presenting this to the full Planning Commission meeting before consideration before City Council.
Seismic Retrofit Program
- The City continues to move forward with the Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program. The City launched a Seismic Grant Program in July of 2022 to assist property owner's with their retrofits from Cal OES/FEMA.

Removal of Governmental Constraints

Governmental regulations are often cited as constraints to the maintenance, improvement and development of housing, because such regulations typically raise housing costs, and a portion of the costs is inevitably passed down to consumers. Implementation strategies to address this issue will look at alleviating impacts of land use controls, development standards, and development review processes.

Active Programs Include:

Housing Types and Design Standards
- The Planning Commission Long Range Planning Projects Subcommittee provided input on a proposed zone text amendment to define various housing types, specifically co-living, micro units, and senior congregate care, and develop appropriate design standards, and consideration of "mid-stay" leases.
- Staff Report
- City Council Directive
Streamlining of 100% Deed-Restricted Affordable Housing Projects
- City Council directed staff to explore options to streamline the approval of 100% affordable housing projects. Staff is currently working on this directive and plans to present at the Planning Commission Long Range Planning Projects Subcommittee.
- City Council Directive

Other Related Housing Initiatives

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As housing-forward state legislation continues as a priority, the City is working to ensure compliance with state law and towards new initiatives that would further the housing equity goals of the Housing Element and General Plan 2035.