Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) announced that Senate Bill 233, which aims to improve collaboration between state and local governments on housing planning, has been signed into law.
The new law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to meet with Councils of Governments (COGs) at least 38 months before a region’s housing plan is scheduled for revision. This is a change from the previous requirement of 26 months. The additional time is intended to help cities, counties, and regional agencies better coordinate and develop housing strategies that address local needs.
“California’s housing process works best when there’s clear communication between the state and local governments,” said Senator Seyarto. “Ensuring that every region can plan responsibly to meet its housing needs starts with early coordination. SB 233 gives local jurisdictions the time and tools they need to craft housing plans that reflect the unique needs of their communities.”
The legislation was introduced after difficulties arose during the sixth housing element cycle, when HCD delivered regional housing targets only 26 months before the deadline. This shorter timeline made it difficult for many local governments to comply, resulting in more than 100 jurisdictions missing deadlines and facing penalties.
Regional planning groups, such as the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), had recommended starting the process earlier to help avoid delays and improve cooperation among agencies.
SB 233 passed with unanimous bipartisan support in the Legislature.
