Housing Element Law Overview

California Housing Element Manual, 2ed, Law, Advocacy and Litigation (Jan. 2009), PDF
California Housing Element Manual, 2ed, Appendices (Jan. 2009), PDF
This manual is a summary of California's landmark land use planning requirement for housing. The guide covers review, advocacy and litigation for this plan.
Appendices include excerpts from California's land use laws, and materials from the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
Updated January 2009.

Inclusionary Zoning

Inclusionary Zoning After Palmer & Patterson (May 2010), PDF
Inclusionary Zoning: Legal Issues (December 2002), PDF
Inclusionary Zoning: Policy Considerations and Best Practices (December 2002), PDF
Inclusionary zoning policies require a certain percentage of all new housing to be made affordable to lower income households. Over 100 cities and counties in California have adopted such a policy. PILP has produced three publications on inclusionary zoning policies in California. The first and second publications discuss the legal issues relating to inclusionary zoning policies. The third provides an overview of best practices - suggested policy approaches that have proven effective in practice.

Locating & Approving Affordable Housing

Laws Affecting the Location and Approval of Affordable Housing for Families and Homeless People (March 2000), PDF
This manual is a tool for affordable housing developers, advocates and local officials seeking support for their efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing in these critical times. It surveys the state and federal laws that provide rights, protections and incentives for the development of transitional and permanent housing for low income households, and it explains how to use these laws without having to resort to costly and time-consuming law suits.