Regional Housing Needs

Background

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is required to allocate the region’s share of the statewide housing need to Councils of Governments (COG) based on Department of Finance (DOF) population projections and regional population forecasts used in preparing regional transportation plans. Kern COG, acting in the capacity as the state designated Regional Planning Agency, has the responsibility of developing the state-mandated Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) Plan.

The RHNA process will identify the number of housing units that each local government must accommodate in the Housing Element of its General Plan (Government Code §65584). As part of the region’s planning efforts, Kern COG works with local governments and stakeholders on the RHNA Plan.  Kern COG identifies areas within the region sufficient to house an eight and a half year projection of the regional housing need. Additionally, the RHNA allocates housing units within the region consistent with the development pattern included in the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), and is part of the Regional Transportation Plan. The development of Kern COG’s 2022 RTP/SCS will happen in tandem with the 6th Cycle RHNA Plan.

RHNA Development Schedule

The development of the 6th Cycle RHNA Plan commenced in Spring 2021. This page will have updates on the RHNA development, draft and final plans, and other information. Updates will also be provided during Regional Planning Advisory Meetings and Transportation Planning Policy Committee Meetings.

• ADOPTED KERN COG RHNA PLAN – with HCD Approval received 8-18-22 

  • Final Corrected RHNA – 1-9-23

• Kern COG Regional Housing Needs Online Mapping Tool – Staff and Rincon Consultants have developed a publicly viewable online mapping application, which allows users to explore specific parcels to evaluate the potential number of units a parcel could support.
  • The Online Housing Needs Mapping Tool has been retired – Instead see the Site Check Online Tool
  • The retired Online Housing Needs Mapping Tool is archived here: Archived Tool  and Archived User Guide

July 2022

• Final Draft RHNA Plan 6-30-22  – July 21, 2022 tentative adoption
  • RPAC Agenda, Item VI
  • TPPC Agenda, Item VII
  • Public Hearing and Final Adoption of 6th Cycle RHNA Plan – 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2022

April – June 2022

• Staff and RHNA consultants work on draft RHNA Plan
  • RPAC Agenda, Item VI
  • TPPC Agenda, Item IV. E
• 45-day Jurisdictional Review and Appeal Period of Draft 6th Cycle RHNA Plan from April 22, 2022 to June 6, 2022 – Comment period now closed.
  • 5-27-22 Addendum Draft RHNA Table Format Change – shows the RHNA allocations by all four income categories for each jurisdiction as requested by HCD
  • Jurisdictional Comments from the City of Bakersfield and City of Wasco

March 2022 

• Adoption of Final RHNA Methodology and Presentation of Preliminary Draft RHNA Plan
  • RPAC Agenda, Item VI 
  • TPPC Agenda, Item IV. P
• Adopted 6th Cycle RHNA Methodology with Resolution

February  2022

• HCD completes review of Draft RHNA Methodology (HCD RHNA Methodology Findings Letter)
• Staff and RHNA consultants continue to work on draft RHNA Plan

January 2022

• Staff and RHNA consultants work on draft RHNA Plan

November 2021 – December 2021

• November 3rd – Public Roundtable Meeting on Draft RHNA Methodology – Save the Date
  • Meeting Agenda
  • Draft RHNA Methodology Report – 11-2-21
  • Recording of Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JehfDf8pgIE 

• Draft RHNA Methodology Public Comment Period from Monday, November 8 – Thursday, December 9, 2021(Comment Period Closed)
  • Draft Kern 6th Cycle RHNA Methodology – Public Review Document
  • Public Hearing on Draft RHNA Methodology on Thursday, November 18th during Kern COG Board Meeting at 6:30PM. Please visit https://www.kerncog.org/category/agendas-minutes/cog-tppc/ for the Agenda and meeting details.
  • Written comments may be submitted in advance of the hearing by mail or email at rinvina@kerncog.org. Oral and written comments both will be accepted during the hearing time and public comment period.
• Community Stakeholder Survey (Spanish Version is also available). Survey period November 10 – December 10, 2021.
  • • Community Stakeholder Survey Summary and Report
• Submitted Draft RHNA Methodology to HCD on December 17, 2021 for review.

October 2021

• Present to RPAC and TPPC  – Draft RHNA Methodology
  • RPAC Agenda, Item IV
  • TPPC Agenda, Item IV. B

September 2021

• Present to RPAC and TPPC  – RHNA adjustment factors and objectives
  • RPAC Agenda, Item VI
  • TPPC Agenda, Item III. M

August 2021

• 6th cycle RHNA introduction and development schedule discussion at the Roundtable Stakeholder Meeting #2
• Member Jurisdictional Survey August 25, 2021 – September 8, 2021
  • Member Jurisdictional Survey Findings and Summary Results
• Commence Draft RHNA Methodology Development

July 2021

• Kern COG has contracted with Regional Government Services Authority (RGS), Rincon Consultants, Inc. and Mintier Harnish Planning Consultants to assist with the development of the 6th Cycle RHNA Plan

RHNA Cycles

• 6th Cycle: Complete – RHNA Development Schedule
• 5th Cycle: 2013 – 2023 Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan
• 4th Cycle: 2006 – 2013 Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan

→ If you would like to sign up to be on the Kern RHNA mailing list, please email: Rochelle Invina-Jayasiri, rinvina@kerncog.org

California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Links and Information 

Regional Housing Needs Allocation 
Local Early Action Planning (LEAP)
Housing Elements
Annual Progress Reports (APR) including link to APR Dashboard
Active Funding Programs

Kern Regional Housing Data Report

• 2022:
  • SJV REAP Data Set – Prepared by SJV REAP Consultant Team and Pre-Certified by HCD
  • HCD Data Package – Prepared by HCD
• 2014: Kern COG prepared the 2014 Kern Regional Housing Data Report which is a compilation of required data sets to help local jurisdictions prepare their housing element updates.