2019 Housing Element - Implementation

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PROPOSED EMERGENCY SHELTER AMENDMENTS

The Humboldt County Planning Commission recommended adoption of the draft Emergency Shelter Amendments at its September 15, 2022 meeting. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will consider adoption of the amendments at its meeting of June 27, 2023. The amendments implement the 2019 Housing Element through Implementation Measures H-IM54 and H-IM71, making changes in the zoning code to make it consistent with Government Code Section 65583(a)(4).

These two links contain the Drafts recommended by the Planning Commission:

Inland Emergency Shelter Amendments - Planning Commission Draft (PDF)

Coastal Emergency Shelter Amendments - Planning Commission Draft (PDF)

Updated June 2, 2023

PROPOSED SUPPORTIVE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AMENDMENTS

The Humboldt County Planning Commission recommended adoption of the draft Supportive and Transitional Housing Amendments at its October 20, 2022 meeting. The Board of Supervisors will consider adoption of the amendments at its meeting of June 27, 2023. The amendments implement the 2019 Housing Element through Implementation Measures H-IM51 and H-IM71, making changes in the zoning code to make it consistent with Government Code Section 65582, 65883, and 65650.

Inland Supportive and Transitional Housing Amendments - Planning Commission DRAFT (PDF)

Coastal Supportive and Transitional Housing Amendments - Planning Commission DRAFT (PDF)

Supportive Housing in Humboldt - Permitting Guidelines and Best Practices (PDF)

Updated June 2, 2023


FEE DEFERRALS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND TRANSITIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will deliberate and consider adoption into the zoning regulations, a Fee Deferrals Ordinance for certain housing projects at an upcoming regular meeting in 2023 meeting, The meeting will be noticed and reported here when the date is determined. 

Draft Fee Deferrals Ordinance

Updated June 2, 2023

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE 

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors adopted the following ADU Ordinances and related amendments at its September 1, 2020 meeting, a virtual meeting. 

The Inland ADU Ordinance is effective October 1, 2020. The Coastal ADU Ordinance will become effective upon the Board of Supervisors' adoption of the certified Coastal Commission modifications. 

COASTAL ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors adopted the following Coastal ADU Ordinance with modifications as certified by the Coastal Commission at its June 27, 2023 meeting.  

Visit our Humboldt ADU page for information on how to plan, permit, and build an Accessory Dwelling Unit.

Last updated July 20, 2023

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PUBLIC HEARING - AMENDMENTS TO THE INLAND AND COASTAL REGULATIONS FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS

Or email comments to longrangeplanning@co.humboldt.ca.us
WHEN WHERE WHAT


Virtual Board of Supervisors Meeting
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing

LINK TO VIRTUAL BOARD OF SUPERVISOR'S MEETING

From the County's Calendar, click on the Agenda link at the right next to the Board Meeting for the desired date. The Agenda contains the zoom link for the meeting, and call-in instructions for public comment. A video link is available to watch the meeting without interaction.

Get Notifications

You can sign up for email or text notifications for Housing Element Implementation, including Ordinances, code updates and other topics on the County’s website at: Notify Me.

Once there, sign in with your email. Then select “General Plan Implementation” for ordinance workshops, meetings, and notices

You can also submit ideas and questions through our long range planning email, where we collect public comments: LongRangePlanning@co.humboldt.ca.us



Opportunities for Public Comment

Email your comments to longrangeplanning@co.humboldt.ca.us
WHEN WHERE WHAT

Virtual Public Hearing - see Humboldt County Website for details

Implementation 2020 - Upcoming Projects

Welcome to Humboldt County’s Housing Element Update page. It is intended to inform people, and invite community input about current and future housing in the unincorporated parts of the county.

Thank you to everyone who has participated and provided input to the proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance through workshops and comments. In the coming months more implementation measures will be brought forth for review and comment. Humboldt County Planning will post and notify the public about these projects as information and drafts become available. Please sign up for text or email alerts through our Notify Me webpage to keep up with what is coming.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Surveys

(Most recent update April 30, 2020)

The ADU surveys are not available at this time, however email or written comments are always welcome. Later surveys will appear on this page as new implementation measures are discussed.  


2019 Housing Element Adopted Aug. 20 2019

The Housing Element was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on August 20, 2019. On October 23, 2019 the California Department of Housing and Community Development ("HCD") certified Humboldt County's 2019 Housing Element.

The files below make up the final Housing Element that was adopted at the August 20, 2019 Board of Supervisors hearing. It includes public input, revisions requested by the Planning Commission, HCD, and Legal Services of Northern California. The Element was adopted with minor revisions.

Earlier versions of the Housing Element can be found under the Draft Policies tab below.

Remind Me, What is the Housing Element?

State law requires cities and counties to have housing elements as part of their general plans. The housing element identifies existing and projected housing needs and establishes goals, policies, standards and implementation measures for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing in the unincorporated areas of the county. Humboldt County’s Housing Element was last updated in 2019. The planning horizon for this Element extends to 2027.

  1. hOW cAN I pARTICPATE?
  2. Draft Policies
  3. Background & Demographics
  4. Archived 2019 Housing Element
  5. Archive

Topics Related to Housing

As part of Implementation, we are asking the public to consider several topics related to housing. Some may result in proposed ordinances or amendments. Some changes are mandated by state law, and some spring from recognized housing needs. All are open to public discussion and comment.

  1.  New allowances for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); 
  2.  New allowances for Tiny Houses;
  3.  Facilitate and fund development of Emergency Shelters on parcels previously zoned for them;
  4.  Facilitate and fund transitional and supportive housing; and
  5.  Allowances for more Farm Employee Housing.

Broad public participation at all levels of the decision making process, including education, study, workshops, hearings, and plan revisions has been a major policy of Humboldt County since 1984 (1984 Framework Plan, Section 1231.4). Public participation continues to be a foundation of County government, as recognized in the 2017 General Plan (Section 2.8):

"The most successful land use planning process will provide for the education of the public. Knowledge of the process allows citizens to have meaningful access to the decision makers, evaluate alternative proposals, and make specific recommendations on hearing draft land use proposals."

How Can You Participate?

You are invited to help us update the Housing Element in several ways:

  • Sign up for notifications
  • Attend workshop(s)
  • Take our surveys
  • Submit written comments
  • Attend Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings

Notifications

You can sign up for email or text notifications for the Housing Element update and other topics on the County’s website at: Notify Me.

Select “General Plan Implementation” for Housing Element workshops, meetings, and notices.

Surveys

As work on the Element progresses, interactive surveys and tools for public comment on specific topics will be incorporated into this and other websites. To receive notifications as surveys become available, sign up at Notify Me. Select "General Plan Implementation".

Written Comments

Please send written communications to: longrangeplanning@co.humboldt.ca.us

All comments will be part of public record.

Contact Person for Housing Element

If you have questions about Humboldt County's 2019 Housing Element, please email Michael Richardson: MRichardson@co.humboldt.ca.us