Housing Element

The City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element was certified and adopted in 2022.

2021-2029 Housing Element (click here)

The Housing Element is part of the City’s General Plan and must be updated every eight years. The City’s Housing Element performs the following functions:

Analyzes the City’s demographics, economics and housing supply
Analyzes housing constraints and resources
Evaluates sites appropriate for potential housing
Develops housing goals, objectives, policies, and programs

The “Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)” is the method by which the State estimates each region’s housing needs for all income groups. The current 6th Cycle update presents new challenges to all jurisdictions across the State, including: the increase in RHNA dwelling unit allocations to local jurisdictions; strict housing site eligibility requirements; and new housing laws that address local policies aimed at managing growth.

Housing Element Requirements

The Housing Element must be consistent with statewide housing laws, housing element guidelines, and applicable goals and policies in the California Government Code. The City’s Housing Element must clearly demonstrate that Redlands has sufficient capacity to accommodate the number of housing units identified in the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). The City is not required to build housing projects, but must plan to provide appropriate land area (including zoning) that will be needed to accommodate future housing projects by private developers.

For the current RHNA cycle, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) provided the RHNA allocation number to the City of Redlands for the 2021-2029 period consisting of the following household income levels:

Very-low income: 967 units
Low income: 615 units
Moderate income: 652 units
Above-moderate income: 1,282 units
Total RHNA allocation: 3,516 units

Additional information about RHNA can be found at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) website and at the California Department of Housing and Community Development website.

Certification by HCD

The California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) certified the final 2021-2029 Housing Element on October 7, 2022. The city’s current Housing Element is in compliance with State law.

HCD Certification letter dated October 7, 2022 (click here)

2021-2029 Housing Element

The City Council adopted the HCD-approved Housing Element on October 4, 2022 (Resolution No. 8392).

Complete document: redlands_housing_element_adopted_10-04-22.pdf

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Housing Needs Assessment

Chapter 3: Housing Resources & Sites Inventory

Chapter 4: Constraints

Chapter 5: Quantified Objectives, Housing Goals, Policies, and Programs

Chapter 6: Review of Past Accomplishments

Chapter 7: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing

Appendix A: Site Inventory Map

Appendix B: Site Inventory List

Appendix C: Community Engagement

Appendix D: Zoning Code Abbreviations

Housing Sites Inventory Map

This map identifies potential sites available for affordable housing projects.

Housing Sites Inventory Map (click here)

Hint: To have different layers turn off/on, click on the Layers button inside the toolbar at upper right corner.
To select a different base map (such as ‘Imagery Hybrid’ for an aerial photo), click on Basemaps button inside toolbar at upper right corner.

Graphic showing image of Housing Sites Inventory Map.

RHNA Rezoning

Approximately 26 properties in Redlands have had their zoning designation changed (highlighted in Red on the Housing Sites Inventory Map) to allow residential uses as approved by Ordinance No. 2983 adopted by the City Council on June 17, 2025, and will become effective on July 17, 2025.

The rezoning provides sufficient land area that allows for the required amount of future residential development in Redlands, referred to as the “Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Rezoning Project.” This RHNA Rezoning is identified as Program No. 1.1-1 in the Housing Element’s work program (beginning on page 147 of the 2021-2029 Housing Element).

For more information, please contact Kevin Beery, Senior Planner, at ‘kbeery@cityofredlands.org‘ or call (909) 798-7555 ext. 2.

Location map showing properties to be rezoned.

Zoning map showing proposed new zone designations.

Zoning Code Amendments

In addition to the RHNA Rezoning work program, the Housing Element includes numerous other work program items as contained in Table 5-2 (see pages 147 through 176).

The City Council approved Ordinance No. 2985 amending several Zoning Code provisions pertaining to residential districts as well as some commercial districts. These code amendments will become effective on August 15, 2025. Click on the links below for further information:

Development Impact Fees

For further information about current Development Impact Fees (DIF) including the nexus study, please go to the Municipal Utilities & Engineering Department webpage here:
https://www.cityofredlands.org/post/development-impact-fees

ADUs

The new construction of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (“ADU”) on an existing residential property is an important strategy for providing more affordable housing units throughout the city. Existing structures such as a garage (either attached or detached) may be able to be converted into an ADU. Another potential option is the creation of a Junior ADU within an existing house.

To learn more about the different types of ADUs and general requirements, please go to our ADU webpage (click here).