(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to create incentives for jurisdictions that are compliant with housing element requirements and have enacted prohousing local policies. It is the intent of the Legislature that these incentives be in the form of additional points or other preference in the scoring of competitive housing and infrastructure programs. It is the intent of the Legislature that, in adopting regulations related to prohousing local policy criteria, the department shall create criteria that consider the needs of rural, suburban, and urban jurisdictions and how those criteria may differ in those areas.

(b) For award cycles commenced after July 1, 2021, jurisdictions that have adopted a housing element that has been found by the department to be in substantial compliance with the requirements of this article pursuant to Section 65585, and that have been designated prohousing pursuant to subdivision (c) based upon their adoption of prohousing local policies, shall be awarded additional points or preference in the scoring of program applications for the following programs:

(1) The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program established by Part 1 (commencing with Section 75200) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.

(2) The Transformative Climate Communities Program established by Part 4 (commencing with Section 75240) of Division 44 of the Public Resources Code.

(3) The Infill Incentive Grant Program of 2007 established by Section 53545.13 of the Health and Safety Code.

(4) Additional bonus points may be awarded to other state programs when already allowable under state law.

(c) The department shall designate jurisdictions as prohousing pursuant to the emergency regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (d) and report these designations to the Office of Planning and Research, and any other applicable agency or department, annually and upon request.

(d) By July 1, 2021, the department, in collaboration with stakeholders, shall adopt emergency regulations to implement this section.

(e) On or before January 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the Department of Finance shall publish on its internet website the list of programs included under subdivision (b).

(f) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Compliant housing element” means an adopted housing element that has been found to be in substantial compliance with the requirements of this article by the department pursuant to Section 65585.

(2) “Prohousing local policies” means policies that facilitate the planning, approval, or construction of housing. These policies may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Local financial incentives for housing, including, but not limited to, establishing a local housing trust fund.

(B) Reduced parking requirements for sites that are zoned for residential development.

(C) Adoption of zoning allowing for use by right for residential and mixed-use development.

(D) Zoning more sites for residential development or zoning sites at higher densities than is required to accommodate the minimum existing regional housing need allocation for the current housing element cycle.

(E) Adoption of accessory dwelling unit ordinances or other mechanisms that reduce barriers for property owners to create accessory dwelling units beyond the requirements outlined in Section 65852.2, as determined by the department.

(F) Reduction of permit processing time.

(G) Creation of objective development standards.

(H) Reduction of development impact fees.

(I) Establishment of a Workforce Housing Opportunity Zone, as defined in Section 65620, or a housing sustainability district, as defined in Section 66200.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 159, Sec. 5. (AB 101) Effective July 31, 2019.)