Housing Element

Background

California State law requires every city and county to adopt a General Plan containing seven required elements:

  1. Land Use
  2. Circulation
  3. Housing
  4. Conservation
  5. Safety
  6. Open Space
  7. Noise
  8. Environmental Justice (for designated "Disadvantaged Communities" only*)

*Chino Hills is not a designated Disadvantaged Community and does not include an Environmental Justice Element in its General Plan. However, Chino Hills will incorporate applicable Environmental Justice policies in its updated General Plan.

The Housing Element is required to be updated every eight years and is subject to detailed statutory requirements and mandatory review by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Learn more on the California Department of Housing and Community Development website.

What is a Housing Element?

The General Plan Housing Element is the master plan for housing development, maintenance, and affordability in the community. A major component of the Housing Element is a plan to meet the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) e stablished by HCD.

The current Chino Hills Housing Element (2021-2029) was adopted by City Council on August 16, 2022 (Resolution No. 2022R-083). The adopted Housing Element and its Appendices were submitted to HCD on August 4, 2022 for state approval, and the City received the state Housing Element Approval Letter certifying the City of Chino Hills 6th Cycle Housing Element on September 8, 2022. This Housing Element reflects the City of Chino Hills’ efforts to provide adequate and affordable housing for all persons in the community.

Chino Hills 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021-2029)

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is RHNA?

  • The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is mandated by State Housing Law as part of the periodic process of updating local housing elements of the General Plan. The RHNA quantifies the need for housing within each jurisdiction during specified planning periods. Through RHNA, the State has allocated over 1.3 million new housing units to be planned for across the southern California region to address the housing crisis and provide adequate housing for all economic segments of the community. This allocation includes very low, low, moderate, and above moderate-income residential units. Chino Hills has been allocated 3,729 total RHNA units which is included in the current Housing Element. 

TOTAL RHNA UNITS FOR CHINO HILLS*
3,729
Very low income (<50% of AMI**)
1388
Low income (50-80% of AMI)
821
Moderate income (80-120% of AMI)
789
Above moderate income (>120% of AMI)731
*calculation difference due to rounding; **AMI = Adjusted median income, based on the County of San Bernardino average incomes.


Why does the City of Chino Hills need to comply with RHNA?

  • State RHNA allocations override local residential growth control ordinances, including Measure U. In addition, the City of Chino Hills adopted Measure U contains language recognizing the mandate to comply with State RHNA obligations, Measure U states:
    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City Council may increase residential density as necessary to meet the City’s minimum mandated Housing Element requirements as set forth in California Government Code §65580, et seq., as amended from time to time, including, without limitation, the City’s share of regional housing needs.

What are the penalties if Chino Hills does not comply with RHNA?

  • There are a number of different penalties the City could face if it does not comply or is late submitting the Housing Element including: