Amendments for Reasonable Accommodation

Long Range Planning of the Planning and Building Department has drafted proposed amendments for reasonable accommodation for residential accessibility.  The preparation of the amendments implements goals, policies, and programs of the County’s adopted 2019 Housing Element of its General Plan.  

The draft amendments for reasonable accommodation for residential accessibility are available for public review:

Reasonable Accommodation Amendments Public Review Draft 4-22-2022 (PDF)

Please email written comments to Michael Richardson, Supervising Planner.

The amendments would update the County’s existing procedures for members of the public to request accommodation from the County’s land use and zoning rules and procedures for residential accessibility.  Should these amendments be adopted by the Board of Supervisors, they would only apply to lands in the unincorporated area of Humboldt county.  For property located in the Coastal Zone, the amendments must be certified by the California Coastal Commission in order to become effective.

The amendments provide a procedure for individuals with disabilities to request Reasonable Accommodations, consistent with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, California Government Code Section 11135, the Federal Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title 2 Division 4.1, Chapter 5, Subchapter 7, Articles 15 and 18 of the California Code of Regulations.  It is the intent of the amendments to meet the requirements of federal and state law, including Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, to ensure that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing, including public and common use spaces, by allowing reasonable accommodation(s) with respect to the County’s land use and zoning regulations, policies, practices, and procedures.  

The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development has published a primer on reasonable accommodation and reasonable modification that readers may find helpful.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please email Michelle Nielsen, Senior Planner, or call 707-445-7541.