HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE 2021-2029

State law requires jurisdictions to adopt and periodically update a General Plan.  The Housing Element is one of the required elements of the County of Orange General Plan and is statutorily required to be updated every 8 years.

The County of Orange is currently updating the Housing Element for the 6th cycle , which covers the planning period from 2021-2029. The Housing Element serves as a policy guide to address the comprehensive housing needs of the unincorporated areas within Orange County. The primary focus of the Housing Element is to ensure decent, safe, and sanitary housing for current and future residents of the unincorporated areas.

HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE DRAFT - NOVEMBER 2024

We invite you to participate in the process to provide input/comments on the Draft Housing Element. The Revised Draft includes new edits highlighted in yellow. 

• Orange County Housing Element Update (Public Review Version, November 2024) 
• Summary of Changes

Public Review period: November 12, 2024 - November 18, 2024

Please submit any comments to: OChousing@ocpw.ocgov.com 

PREVIOUS DRAFTS OF HOUSING ELEMENTS:

HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE DRAFT - September/August 2024

• Orange County Housing Element Update (Version Submitted to HCD, September 2024)
• Orange County Housing Element Update (Public Review Version, August 2024)
• Summary of Changes 

Please click on the following link to view the webinar that was hosted on September 5, 2024.

Webinar: Presentation

HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE DRAFT - JULY 2023

• Orange County Housing Element Update (Version Submitted to HCD, July 2023) 
• Orange County Housing Element Update (Public Review Version, July 2023)
• HCD Comment Letter and Findings (September 29, 2023) 

HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE DRAFT - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

• Orange County Housing Element Update (Version Submitted to HCD, December 2022)
• Orange County Housing Element Update (Public Review Version, November 2022) 
• HCD Comment Letter and Findings (February 7, 2023) 

HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE DRAFT - SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

• Orange County Housing Element Update (Version Submitted to HCD, October 2021)
• Orange County Housing Element Update (Public Review Version, 9/16/2021)
• HCD Comment Letter and Findings (December 27, 2021) 

ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT

CEQA Initial Study/Negative Declaration for Housing-Related Updates to the County of Orange General Plan and Comprehensive Zoning Code - Approved by the Board of Supervisors on September 27. 2022. 

• Notice of Intent to Adopt Negative Declaration 
• Initial Study 

ZONING CODE AMENDMENT CA 24-01 (MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS) AND ZONE CHANGE ZC 24-01 (SPECIFIC COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SITES) 

The Zoning Code Amendment CA 24-01 and Zone Change ZC 24-01 was approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 25. 2024.

• Adopted Orange County Zoning Code 7-25-24

• Board of Supervisors June 25, 2024, Agenda 

Previous Workshops and Public Hearings:

• Community Workshop Presentation – February 16, 2021picture_as_pdf
• Community Workshop - September 27, 2021 at 6 p.m.
  • explore Link (English),  explore Link (Spanish), explore Link (Vietnamese)
• Planning Commission Study Session - October 27, 2021
• Planning Commission meeting – TBD
• Board of Supervisors meeting – TBD

Contact Information

For more information about the County of Orange’s Housing Element, please email email OChousing@ocpw.ocgov.com.

OC Public Works/OC Development Services
601 N. Ross Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Helpful Links

• County of Orange Zoning Code Map picture_as_pdf
• County of Orange Housing Element 2013-2021picture_as_pdf
• California Department of Housing and Community Development (State HCD)explore
• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) – RHNAexplore