Housing Element

The housing goal for the State of California is for every Californian to have access to a decent home and suitable living environment.  The Housing Element is one of seven required chapters (“elements”) in the General Plan. The City's Housing Element outlines Gilroy’s housing goals and policies, and the  specific actions the City will take to address existing and future housing needs. 

On May 1, 2023, the City of Gilroy City Council adopted the Gilroy 2023-2031 Housing Element in substantial compliance with California State Housing Element Law (Article 10.6 of the Government Code (Gov. Code § 65580 et seq)). On August 21, 2023, the California Department of Housing and Community Development ("HCD") certified the City's 2023-2031 Housing Element. 

Housing Element Planning Period: Gilroy's 2023-2031 Housing Element covers the eight year planning period from January 31, 2023 – January 31, 2031. The Housing Element is reviewed annually and updated every eight years in order to remain relevant and useful and reflect the community’s changing housing needs.  The Housing Element has a shorter planning period than the other General Plan elements and is the only General Plan element that requires review and certification by the State of California. 

What is RHNA? Since 1969, the State of California has required that all local governments (cities, towns and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in our communities. The Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) process is used to determine how many new homes, and the affordability of those homes, each local government must plan for in its Housing Element. The RHNA program establishes the eight-year cycle within which the city must work to achieve the allocated amounts of new housing in each income category. 

Annual Report: Each March, the City reports on the implementation of adopted housing programs and the City's progress towards meeting RHNA goals.  The 2022 Annual Report was reviewed by the City Council in March 2023 and also includes notable activities in 2022 that implement 2040 General Plan goals, policies and action items.  Past annual reports can be viewed through the links in the menu to the right.

The Housing Element may be viewed at the following locations:

City of Gilroy Planning Division: 7351 Rosanna Street; Gilroy, CA 95020

 Gilroy Public Library:  350 West 6th Street; Gilroy, CA 95020

Background: For background on the update to the City's 2023-2031 Housing Element, please see https://www.cityofgilroy.org/907/Housing-Element-Update