California Inclusionary Housing Policy Database

The California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) is pleased to launch this free and searchable database of California Inclusionary Housing (IH) policies—the first of its kind in the U.S.

The California Inclusionary Housing Database contains information on the key characteristics of California IH policies existing in 2006. It is estimated that there were about 170 such policies in the state at that time. CCRH was able to retrieve electronic and hard copy versions of approximately 80% of these policies—over 130.

The database provides summaries of policy characteristics for each city and county. Users may search for these summaries by jurisdiction name or by more than 30 other characteristics or criteria. For example, users may select all jurisdictions with population between 50,000 and 100,000 that have mandatory ordinances, require 15% to 20% of units be affordable to low- and moderate-income households, and allow land dedications or payment of in-lieu fees. In addition, each summary provides a link to the jurisdiction’s full policy. A glossary defines key terms.

We wish to acknowledge and thank the following individuals and organization whose work and funding support made this database project possible:

CCRH staff: Deputy Director, Dewey Bandy for the coordination and design of the database; Rebecca White, for developing and programming the searchable database and website and assisting with the design; and Brandi Odom and Janette Villar, for collecting policies, inputting their key characteristics and contributing to the design..

Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH), Sacramento Housing Alliance, and San Diego Housing Federation, for their partnership in surveying the inclusionary housing production numbers listed in the database. NPH also shared its collection of IH policies.

Beta Testers: Paula Authier, Sierra Planning and Housing Alliance; Bill Higgins, League of California Cities; Mona Tawatao, Legal Services of Northern California; Tom Scott, San Diego Housing Foundation

Funders: The database project was funded, in large part, through grants from the S.H. Cowell Foundation and the Butler Family Fund. Also contributing were the Bank of America Foundation, Union Bank of California Foundation, U.S. Bank Foundation, Washington Mutual Bank Foundation, and Wells Fargo Bank Foundation.

Disclaimer

Given the complexity of many of these policies, it is likely that mistakes in interpretation and inputting errors were made. Additionally, searchable criteria, such as minimum and maximum percentages of units targeted, were sometimes simplified from more complicated formulas laid out within the text of policies. Read the full policies for a thorough understanding of their content and contact jurisdictions for current copies of policies that may have been amended since being posted.

The database is a snapshot in time. To make it an organic and interactive tool, please do not hesitate to contact us about the California IH Policy Database to clarify terminology, to identify errors, and update new or existing policies.

A description of our information sources and research methods is available: Inclusionary Housing Policy Database Methodology.