Housing Element Update (2021 to 2029) - Home Page

The City Hosted a Housing Town Hall!

Since the City held the Housing Town Hall, the State passed new legislation, Assembly Bill 1287, which further expands upon the State Density Bonus Law. For a description and FAQ of AB 1287, see the document linked below:

Summary and FAQ on AB 1287

The City hosted two separate events of the same Housing Town Hall, one virtually on October 30, 2023 and another in person in the Council Chambers on November 8, 2023.

The Town Hall reviewed recent updates to the City’s Affordable Housing Production Program (AHPP) and how it relates to State Density Bonus Law. The goal was to help participants gain a better understanding of the affordable requirements for housing projects and how that provides them with additional development opportunity in compliance with State law. The Town hall went over the following:

  • Updates to the AHPP and what the new requirements are for housing projects;
  • How State Density Bonus Law works and what it provides to housing projects;
  • How the AHPP and density bonus law work together to provide more housing; and
  • Question and answer.
Preview the information presented at the Town Hall here!

Where and When?

The event was held twice to allow for both virtual and in-person attendance. Please note that the same information was presented at both meetings. See below for details:

  1. Virtual Town Hall, Teams Live-Event

    2. In-Person Town Hall, Council Chambers at City Hall


Recently Approved Streamlined Housing Projects

This list of projects represents the streamlined housing projects approved since the adoption of an interim zoning ordinance to streamline housing production, passed by the City Council on March 10th, 2020. The interim zoning ordinance was last extended on April 12, 2022 and under the IZO, projects that receive streamlined approval shall be posted online for the public to view.

For information on what types of projects are eligible for streamlining and the expected timeframes for review and approval, see this guide on Streamlined Housing Projects

Recently Approved Housing Projects



Review the Adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element for 2021 to 2029!

On Tuesday, October 11th, 2022, the City Council reviewed and adopted the final draft of the 6th Cycle Housing Element. Following adoption, the City submitted the Housing Element to HCD for certification. On October 14th, 2022, HCD sent a letter to the City of Santa Monica deeming the adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element to be in full compliance with State Housing Element Law (see letter below). 

On April 12th, 2023, City Staff at the direction of City Council submitted a letter to HCD requesting technical assistance regarding a potential amendment to the Certified 6th Cycle Housing Element. See below for a link to the letter and attachments sent to HCD.

April 12th, 2023 Letter to HCD

Attachment A - Letter from Planning Commission to City Council (January 23, 2023)

Attachment B - Correspondence for City Council Study Session (February 22, 2023)

Attachment C - Redline Summary of Table Program 1.J

Attachment D - Council Adopted Rezoning

Attachment E - SSI Tracker NC Zone Parcels

Download and read a copy of the Adopted Plan below

September 2022 Adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021 to 2029)

September 2022 Final Draft of the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021 to 2029)[Redlines]

HCD Letter Deeming a Compliant Adopted Housing Element 10/14/22

June 2022 Draft of the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021 to 2029)

June 2022 Draft of the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021 to 2029) [Redlines]

SSI Form Transmitted to HCD (September 2022)

(To display SSI form: Download and open the document, select "View" > "Unhide" in the top tool bar)

HCD Letter Deeming a Compliant Draft Housing Element 9/6/22

Appendix A - Outreach Summary

Appendix B - Housing Needs Assessment

Appendix C - LUCE Goals and Policies

Appendix D - Housing Resources

Appendix E - Constraints on Housing

Appendix E - Constraints on Housing (REDLINE)

Appendix F - Report on Suitable Sites Inventory Analysis

Appendix F - Report on Suitable Sites Inventory Analysis (REDLINE)

Appendix G - Review of Past Performance

Appendix H - Opportunities for Energy Conservation

Appendix I - 2020 Assessment of Fair Housing


The City of Santa Monica has Released the Final Housing Element EIR for Public Review

The Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for the 6th Cycle Housing Element has been completed and is available for review online. The Final EIR responds to the comments received on the Draft EIR and includes the Draft EIR with text revisions. The Final EIR will be submitted to the City Planning Commission and City Council for requested certification and action on the Project. A virtual online Planning Commission public hearing for the project will be held on September 24, 2021. Subsequent to certification, an Addendum to the Final EIR was prepared in October 2022 to address the revisions made to the Housing Element.

Final Housing Element EIR

Addendum to the Housing Element EIR (October 2022)

Appendix A - Notice of Preparation, Scoping Summary, Initial Study

Appendix B - Air Quality and HGH Report

Appendix C – Health Risk Assessment

Appendix D – Historic Architectural Resources Report

Appendix E – Energy Calculations

Appendix F – Noise Calculations

Appendix G – Transportation Study

Appendix H – AB 52 Construction

Appendix I – Mobility Division Survey Results

Appendix J – Comment Letters Received on the Draft EIR

Draft Housing Element EIR


The Suitable Sites Inventory

Interactive Map of Suitable Sites


Components of the Housing Element

The components of the Housing Element are largely dictated by the State and typically must include:

  • A detailed analysis of the City’s demographic, economic, and housing characteristics.
  • A comprehensive analysis of the barriers to producing and preserving housing.
  • A review of the City’s progress in implementing current housing policies and programs.
  • An identification of goals, objectives, and policies, in addition to a full list of programs that will implement the vision of the plan.
  • A list of sites (aka the Suitable Sites Inventory) that could accommodate new housing, demonstrating the City’s ability to meet the quantified housing number established in the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Identification of a site’s capacity does not guarantee that construction will occur on that site. If there are insufficient sites and capacity to meet the RHNA allocation, then the Housing Element is required to identify a rezoning program to create the required capacity.

Download the Project Fact Sheet