Amended  IN  Assembly  April 20, 2021
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 18, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 787


Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel

February 16, 2021


An act to amend Sections 65400 and 65583.1 of add Section 65400.2 to the Government Code, relating to housing.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 787, as amended, Gabriel. Planning and zoning: housing element: converted affordable housing units.
Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each city, county, and city and county to prepare and adopt a general plan that contains certain mandatory elements, including a housing element. Existing law requires that the housing element include, among other things, an assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints relevant to meeting those needs. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with each council of governments, to determine each region’s existing and projected housing need and requires each council of governments, or the department for cities and counties without a council of governments, to adopt a final regional housing need plan that allocates a share of the regional housing need to each city, county, or city and county, as provided.
Existing law requires the planning agency of a city or county to provide an annual report that includes specified information by April 1 of each year to specified entities, including the Department of Housing and Community Development. Among other things, existing law requires that this report include the progress in meeting the city’s or county’s share of regional housing needs and local efforts to remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing, as specified.

This bill would authorize a city or county to elect to meet all or a portion of its share of regional housing need for the applicable income category with units in an existing multifamily building that are converted to deed-restricted housing for very low, low-, or moderate-income households by the acquisition of the unit or the imposition of affordability covenants and restrictions for the unit if specified conditions are met. Among these conditions, the bill would require that the converted unit be subject to long-term affordability covenants and restrictions that require the unit to be affordable to persons of very low, low, or moderate income for at least 55 years.

To the extent that these units are credited for addressing the regional housing need allocation, as provided, the bill would require the jurisdiction to either subtract a corresponding amount from its existing above-moderate-income total units credited or, if that subtraction would cause the number of permitted above-moderate-income units for the applicable regional housing need allocation cycle to drop below 0, cause within 12 months an increase to its total site inventory zoned capacity for above-moderate-income units by a commensurate amount. To the extent that the planning agency has elected to treat existing above-moderate-income units as very low, low-, or moderate-income units as a result of the conversion those units as provided in the bill, the bill would require that the above-described annual report additionally include the total number of above-moderate-income units without accounting for that conversion.

This bill would authorize a planning agency to include in its annual report the number of units in an existing multifamily building that were converted to deed-restricted rental housing for very low, low-, or moderate-income households by the imposition of affordability covenants and restrictions for the unit. The bill would apply only to converted units that meet specified requirements, including that the rent for the unit prior to conversion was not affordable to very low, low-, or moderate-income households and the initial postconversion rent for the unit is at least 10% less than the average monthly rent charged over the 12 months prior to conversion. The bill would authorize a city or county to reduce its share of regional housing need for the income category of the converted units on a unit- for -unit basis, as specified.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 65400.2 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65400.2.
 (a) For purposes of the housing element portion of the annual report required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400, the planning agency may include the number of units in an existing multifamily building that were converted to deed-restricted rental housing for very low, low, or moderate-income households by the imposition of affordability covenants and restrictions for the unit. The report shall clearly indicate that these were not newly constructed units.
(b) For purposes of this section, a unit may be reported as a converted unit under subdivision (a) only if all of the following apply to the unit:
(1) The rent for the unit prior to conversion was not affordable to very low, low-, or moderate-income households.
(2) The unit is subject to a long-term recorded regulatory agreement with a public entity that requires the unit to be affordable to, and occupied by, persons of very low, low-, or moderate income for at least 55 years.
(3) (A) The initial postconversion rent for the unit is at least 10 percent less than the average monthly rent charged over the 12 months prior to conversion.
(B) To determine the maximum rental rate in subsequent years, the initial postconversion rent for the unit shall be compared to the rent limit at the 100-percent income level established by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee for the year of conversion, and the regulatory agreement shall limit the rent on the unit for the term of the regulatory agreement to that ratio multiplied by the 100-percent income level rent limit for the respective year.
(C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), a project owner may shift rent restrictions on units within a given property so long as the overall distribution of regulated rents remain the same.
(4) The unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition at the time of occupancy following the conversion.
(5) The unit was not acquired by eminent domain as part of the conversion.
(6) The unit is subject to a governmental monitoring program to ensure continued affordability and occupancy by qualifying households.
(7) Unless the development is subject to a regulatory agreement with the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, a public entity shall hold an assignable right to purchase the development, any interest in the development, or any interest in a partnership that owns the development for a price that does not exceed the principal amount of outstanding indebtedness secured by the building and all federal, state, and local taxes attributable to that sale.
(c) If the planning agency reports converted units pursuant to subdivision (a), it shall do both of the following:
(1) Subtract the same number of units from the number of newly constructed above-moderate-income units it would be required to otherwise include in the report.
(2) If the subtraction pursuant to paragraph (1) causes the number of newly constructed above-moderate-income units reported to be less than zero, the planning agency shall identify and make available within 180 days sufficient additional adequate and available sites to accommodate the number of above-moderate-income units needed to get to zero. Sites identified pursuant to this paragraph shall allow an equal or greater residential density than the highest density of the sites of the converted units.
(d) For any units that qualify to be reported pursuant to this section that were converted between the start of the projection period and the deadline for adoption of the housing element, a city or county may reduce its share of the regional housing need for the income category of the converted units on a unit-for-unit basis, provided that the reduction, when combined with any substitution allowed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65583.1, does not exceed 25 percent of the need in the respective income category.

SECTION 1.Section 65400 of the Government Code is amended to read:
65400.

(a)After the legislative body has adopted all or part of a general plan, the planning agency shall do both of the following:

(1)Investigate and make recommendations to the legislative body regarding reasonable and practical means for implementing the general plan or element of the general plan, so that it will serve as an effective guide for orderly growth and development, preservation and conservation of open-space land and natural resources, and the efficient expenditure of public funds relating to the subjects addressed in the general plan.

(2)Provide by April 1 of each year an annual report to the legislative body, the Office of Planning and Research, and the Department of Housing and Community Development that includes all of the following:

(A)The status of the plan and progress in its implementation.

(B)(i)The progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs determined pursuant to Section 65584 and local efforts to remove governmental constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583.

(ii)The housing element portion of the annual report, as required by this paragraph, shall be prepared through the use of standards, forms, and definitions adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The department may review, adopt, amend, and repeal the standards, forms, or definitions, to implement this article. Any standards, forms, or definitions adopted to implement this article shall not be subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2. Before and after adoption of the forms, the housing element portion of the annual report shall include a section that describes the actions taken by the local government towards completion of the programs and status of the local government’s compliance with the deadlines in its housing element. That report shall be considered at an annual public meeting before the legislative body where members of the public shall be allowed to provide oral testimony and written comments.

(iii)The report may include the number of units that have been completed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65583.1. For purposes of this paragraph, committed assistance may be executed throughout the planning period, and the program under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583.1 shall not be required. The report shall document how the units meet the standards set forth in that subdivision.

(iv)To the extent that the planning agency has elected to treat existing above-moderate-income units as very low, low-, or moderate-income units as a result of the conversion those units, in accordance with subdivision (e) of Section 65583.1, the report shall also include the total number of above-moderate-income units without accounting for that conversion.

(C)The number of housing development applications received in the prior year.

(D)The number of units included in all development applications in the prior year.

(E)The number of units approved and disapproved in the prior year.

(F)The degree to which its approved general plan complies with the guidelines developed and adopted pursuant to Section 65040.2 and the date of the last revision to the general plan.

(G)A listing of sites rezoned to accommodate that portion of the city’s or county’s share of the regional housing need for each income level that could not be accommodated on sites identified in the inventory required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583 and Section 65584.09. The listing of sites shall also include any additional sites that may have been required to be identified by Section 65863.

(H)The number of net new units of housing, including both rental housing and for-sale housing and any units that the County of Napa or the City of Napa may report pursuant to an agreement entered into pursuant to Section 65584.08, that have been issued a completed entitlement, a building permit, or a certificate of occupancy, thus far in the housing element cycle, and the income category, by area median income category, that each unit of housing satisfies. That production report shall, for each income category described in this subparagraph, distinguish between the number of rental housing units and the number of for-sale units that satisfy each income category. The production report shall include, for each entitlement, building permit, or certificate of occupancy, a unique site identifier that must include the assessor’s parcel number, but may include street address, or other identifiers.

(I)The number of applications submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 65913.4, the location and the total number of developments approved pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65913.4, the total number of building permits issued pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65913.4, the total number of units including both rental housing and for-sale housing by area median income category constructed using the process provided for in subdivision (c) of Section 65913.4.

(J)If the city or county has received funding pursuant to the Local Government Planning Support Grants Program (Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 50515) of Part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code), the information required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 50515.04 of the Health and Safety Code.

(K)The progress of the city or county in adopting or amending its general plan or local open-space element in compliance with its obligations to consult with California Native American tribes, and to identify and protect, preserve, and mitigate impacts to places, features, and objects described in Sections 5097.9 and 5097.993 of the Public Resources Code, pursuant to Chapter 905 of the Statutes of 2004.

(L)The following information with respect to density bonuses granted in accordance with Section 65915:

(i)The number of density bonus applications received by the city or county.

(ii)The number of density bonus applications approved by the city or county.

(iii)Data from a sample of projects, selected by the planning agency, approved to receive a density bonus from the city or county, including, but not limited to, the percentage of density bonus received, the percentage of affordable units in the project, the number of other incentives or concessions granted to the project, and any waiver or reduction of parking standards for the project.

(M)The Department of Housing and Community Development shall post a report submitted pursuant to this paragraph on its internet website within a reasonable time of receiving the report.

(b)If a court finds, upon a motion to that effect, that a city, county, or city and county failed to submit, within 60 days of the deadline established in this section, the housing element portion of the report required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) that substantially complies with the requirements of this section, the court shall issue an order or judgment compelling compliance with this section within 60 days. If the city, county, or city and county fails to comply with the court’s order within 60 days, the plaintiff or petitioner may move for sanctions, and the court may, upon that motion, grant appropriate sanctions. The court shall retain jurisdiction to ensure that its order or judgment is carried out. If the court determines that its order or judgment is not carried out within 60 days, the court may issue further orders as provided by law to ensure that the purposes and policies of this section are fulfilled. This subdivision applies to proceedings initiated on or after the first day of October following the adoption of forms and definitions by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), but no sooner than six months following that adoption.

SEC. 2.Section 65583.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:
65583.1.

(a)The Department of Housing and Community Development, in evaluating a proposed or adopted housing element for substantial compliance with this article, may allow a city or county to identify adequate sites, as required pursuant to Section 65583, by a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, redesignation of property to a more intense land use category and increasing the density allowed within one or more categories. The department may also allow a city or county to identify sites for accessory dwelling units based on the number of accessory dwelling units developed in the prior housing element planning period whether or not the units are permitted by right, the need for these units in the community, the resources or incentives available for their development, and any other relevant factors, as determined by the department. Nothing in this section reduces the responsibility of a city or county to identify, by income category, the total number of sites for residential development as required by this article.

(b)Sites that contain permanent housing units located on a military base undergoing closure or conversion as a result of action pursuant to the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act (Public Law 100-526), the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-510), or any subsequent act requiring the closure or conversion of a military base may be identified as an adequate site if the housing element demonstrates that the housing units will be available for occupancy by households within the planning period of the element. No sites containing housing units scheduled or planned for demolition or conversion to nonresidential uses shall qualify as an adequate site.

Any city, city and county, or county using this subdivision shall address the progress in meeting this section in the reports provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 65400.

(c)(1)The Department of Housing and Community Development may allow a city or county to substitute the provision of units for up to 25 percent of the community’s obligation to identify adequate sites for any income category in its housing element pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583 where the community includes in its housing element a program committing the local government to provide units in that income category within the city or county that will be made available through the provision of committed assistance during the planning period covered by the element to low- and very low income households at affordable housing costs or affordable rents, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, and which meet the requirements of paragraph (2). Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the community may substitute one dwelling unit for one dwelling unit site in the applicable income category. The program shall do all of the following:

(A)Identify the specific, existing sources of committed assistance and dedicate a specific portion of the funds from those sources to the provision of housing pursuant to this subdivision.

(B)Indicate the number of units that will be provided to both low- and very low income households and demonstrate that the amount of dedicated funds is sufficient to develop the units at affordable housing costs or affordable rents.

(C)Demonstrate that the units meet the requirements of paragraph (2).

(2)Only units that comply with subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) qualify for inclusion in the housing element program described in paragraph (1), as follows:

(A)Units that are to be substantially rehabilitated with committed assistance from the city or county and constitute a net increase in the community’s stock of housing affordable to low- and very low income households. For purposes of this subparagraph, a unit is not eligible to be “substantially rehabilitated” unless all of the following requirements are met:

(i)At the time the unit is identified for substantial rehabilitation, (I) the local government has determined that the unit is at imminent risk of loss to the housing stock, (II) the local government has committed to provide relocation assistance pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1 to any occupants temporarily or permanently displaced by the rehabilitation or code enforcement activity, or the relocation is otherwise provided prior to displacement either as a condition of receivership, or provided by the property owner or the local government pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 17975) of Chapter 5 of Part 1.5 of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code, or as otherwise provided by local ordinance; provided the assistance includes not less than the equivalent of four months’ rent and moving expenses and comparable replacement housing consistent with the moving expenses and comparable replacement housing required pursuant to Section 7260, (III) the local government requires that any displaced occupants will have the right to reoccupy the rehabilitated units, and (IV) the unit has been found by the local government or a court to be unfit for human habitation due to the existence of at least four violations of the conditions listed in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, of Section 17995.3 of the Health and Safety Code.

(ii)The rehabilitated unit will have long-term affordability covenants and restrictions that require the unit to be available to, and occupied by, persons or families of low- or very low income at affordable housing costs for at least 55 years or the time period required by any applicable federal or state law or regulation.

(iii)Prior to initial occupancy after rehabilitation, the local code enforcement agency shall issue a certificate of occupancy indicating compliance with all applicable state and local building code and health and safety code requirements.

(B)Units that are located either on foreclosed property or in a multifamily rental or ownership housing complex of three or more units, are converted with committed assistance from the city or county from nonaffordable to affordable by acquisition of the unit or the purchase of affordability covenants and restrictions for the unit, are not acquired by eminent domain, and constitute a net increase in the community’s stock of housing affordable to low- and very low income households. For purposes of this subparagraph, a unit is not converted by acquisition or the purchase of affordability covenants unless all of the following occur:

(i)The unit is made available for rent at a cost affordable to low- or very low income households.

(ii)At the time the unit is identified for acquisition, the unit is not available at an affordable housing cost to either of the following:

(I)Low-income households, if the unit will be made affordable to low-income households.

(II)Very low income households, if the unit will be made affordable to very low income households.

(iii)At the time the unit is identified for acquisition the unit is not occupied by low- or very low income households or if the acquired unit is occupied, the local government has committed to provide relocation assistance prior to displacement, if any, pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1 to any occupants displaced by the conversion, or the relocation is otherwise provided prior to displacement; provided the assistance includes not less than the equivalent of four months’ rent and moving expenses and comparable replacement housing consistent with the moving expenses and comparable replacement housing required pursuant to Section 7260.

(iv)The unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition at the time of occupancy.

(v)The unit has long-term affordability covenants and restrictions that require the unit to be affordable to persons of low- or very low income for not less than 55 years.

(vi)For units located in multifamily ownership housing complexes with three or more units, or on or after January 1, 2015, on foreclosed properties, at least an equal number of new-construction multifamily rental units affordable to lower income households have been constructed in the city or county within the same planning period as the number of ownership units to be converted.

(C)Units that will be preserved at affordable housing costs to persons or families of low- or very low incomes with committed assistance from the city or county by acquisition of the unit or the purchase of affordability covenants for the unit. For purposes of this subparagraph, a unit shall not be deemed preserved unless all of the following occur:

(i)The unit has long-term affordability covenants and restrictions that require the unit to be affordable to, and reserved for occupancy by, persons of the same or lower income group as the current occupants for a period of at least 55 years.

(ii)The unit is within an “assisted housing development,” as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 65863.10.

(iii)The city or county finds, after a public hearing, that the unit is eligible, and is reasonably expected, to change from housing affordable to low- and very low income households to any other use during the next eight years due to termination of subsidy contracts, mortgage prepayment, or expiration of restrictions on use.

(iv)The unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition at the time of occupancy.

(v)At the time the unit is identified for preservation it is available at affordable cost to persons or families of low- or very low income.

(D)Units in a motel, hotel, or hostel that are converted with committed assistance from the city or county from nonresidential to residential by the acquisition of the unit or the purchase of affordability covenants and restrictions for the unit, are not acquired by eminent domain, and constitute a net increase in the community’s stock of housing affordable to low- and very low income households. For purposes of this subparagraph, a unit is not converted by acquisition or the purchase of affordability covenants unless all of the following occur:

(i)The unit is part of a long-term recovery response to COVID-19.

(ii)The unit is made available for people experiencing homelessness as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(iii)The unit is made available for rent at a cost affordable to low- or very low income households.

(iv)The unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition at the time of occupancy.

(v)The unit has long-term affordability covenants and restrictions that require the unit to be affordable to persons of low- or very low income for not less than 55 years.

(vi)This subparagraph shall remain in effect only for the sixth revision of the housing element pursuant to Section 65588.

(E)All spaces in a mobilehome park, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 18214 of the Health and Safety Code, that is acquired with committed assistance from the city or county where any of the following apply:

(i)The mobilehome park will be acquired with financing that includes a loan from the department pursuant to Section 50783 or 50784.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(ii)At least 50 percent of the current residents in the mobilehome park to be acquired are lower-income households and the entity acquiring the park agrees to enter into a regulatory agreement for a minimum of 55 years that requires both of the following:

(I)All vacant spaces shall be rented at a space rent that does not exceed 50 percent of maximum rent limits established by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee at 60 percent of the area median income.

(II)The space rent for existing residents at the time of the acquisition of the property, both during the 12 months preceding the acquisition and during the term of the regulatory agreement, shall not increase more than 5 percent in any 12-month period.

(3)This subdivision does not apply to any city or county that, during the current or immediately prior planning period, as defined by Section 65588, has not met any of its share of the regional need for affordable housing, as defined in Section 65584, for low- and very low income households. A city or county shall document for any housing unit that a building permit has been issued and all development and permit fees have been paid or the unit is eligible to be lawfully occupied.

(4)For purposes of this subdivision, “committed assistance” means that the city or county enters into a legally enforceable agreement during the period from the beginning of the projection period until the end of the third year of the planning period that obligates sufficient available funds or other in-kind services to provide the assistance necessary to make the identified units affordable and that requires that the units be made available for occupancy within two years of the execution of the agreement. “Committed assistance” does not include tenant-based rental assistance.

(5)For purposes of this subdivision, “net increase” includes only housing units provided committed assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) in the current planning period, as defined in Section 65588, that were not provided committed assistance in the immediately prior planning period.

(6)For purposes of this subdivision, “the time the unit is identified” means the earliest time when any city or county agent, acting on behalf of a public entity, has proposed in writing or has proposed orally or in writing to the property owner, that the unit be considered for substantial rehabilitation, acquisition, or preservation.

(7)In the fourth year of the planning period, as defined by Section 65588, in the report required pursuant to Section 65400, each city or county that has included in its housing element a program to provide units pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (2) shall report in writing to the legislative body, and to the department within 30 days of making its report to the legislative body, on its progress in providing units pursuant to this subdivision. The report shall identify the specific units for which committed assistance has been provided or which have been made available to low- and very low income households, and it shall adequately document how each unit complies with this subdivision. If, by the end of the third year of the planning period, the city or county has not entered into an enforceable agreement of committed assistance for all units specified in the programs adopted pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (2), the city or county shall, not later than the end of the fourth year of the planning period, adopt an amended housing element in accordance with Section 65585, identifying additional adequate sites pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 65583 sufficient to accommodate the number of units for which committed assistance was not provided. If a city or county does not amend its housing element to identify adequate sites to address any shortfall, or fails to complete the rehabilitation, acquisition, purchase of affordability covenants, or the preservation of any housing unit within two years after committed assistance was provided to that unit, it shall be prohibited from identifying units pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of paragraph (2) in the housing element that it adopts for the next planning period, as defined in Section 65588, above the number of units actually provided or preserved due to committed assistance.

(d)A city or county may reduce its share of the regional housing need by the number of units built between the start of the projection period and the deadline for adoption of the housing element. If the city or county reduces its share pursuant to this subdivision, the city or county shall include in the housing element a description of the methodology for assigning those housing units to an income category based on actual or projected sales price, rent levels, or other mechanisms establishing affordability.

(e)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), a city or county may elect to meet all or a portion of its share of the regional housing need for the applicable income category with units in an existing multifamily building that are converted to deed-restricted housing for very low, low-, or moderate-income households by the acquisition of the unit or the imposition of affordability covenants and restrictions for the unit. For purposes of this subdivision, a unit shall not be deemed to be converted by acquisition or the imposition of affordability covenants unless all of the following apply:

(A)The unit, at the time of conversion, is not being rented at a cost affordable to very low, low-, or moderate-income households.

(B)The unit, following conversion, is made available for rent at a cost affordable to very low, low-, or moderate-income households.

(C)The unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition at the time of occupancy.

(D)The unit will be subject to long-term affordability covenants and restrictions that require the unit to be affordable to persons of very low, low, or moderate income for at least 55 years.

(E)The unit has not been acquired by eminent domain as part of the conversion.

(2)To the extent units that qualify under this subdivision are credited for addressing the regional need allocation of the housing element in the annual progress report submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400, the jurisdiction shall either subtract a corresponding amount from its existing above-moderate-income total units credited to meeting its regional housing need or, if that subtraction would cause the number of permitted above-moderate-income units for the applicable regional housing need allocation cycle to drop below zero, cause within 12 months an increase to its total site inventory zoned capacity for above-moderate-income units by a commensurate amount.