Court Opinion

ID: 4127382
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-18 00:26:17.83695+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:19.740231
License: Public Domain

TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS

                            OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

                                      State of California

                                      JOHN K. VAN DE KAMP

                                         Attorney General

                                       ------------------------------

                           OPINION                    :
                                                      :
                                of                    :
                                                      :
                 JOHN K. VAN DE KAMP                  :       No. 87-206
                    Attorney General                   :
                                                      :       SEPTEMBER 29, 1987
                 RODNEY O. LILYQUIST                  :
                 Deputy Attorney General              :

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                THE HONORABLE DAVID ROBERTI, MEMBER, CALIFORNIA STATE
SENATE, has requested an opinion on the following questions concerning the determination of a
locality's share of the regional housing needs by a council of governments:

                1. Must the determination include both the existing and projected housing needs of
the locality?

               2. Must the availability of suitable housing sites be considered based upon the
existing zoning ordinances and land use restrictions of the locality or based upon the potential for
increased residential development under alternative zoning ordinances and land use restrictions?

              3. Must the income categories of sections 6910-6932 of title 25 of the California
Administrative Code be used?

                                            CONCLUSIONS

             1. The determination of a locality's share of the regional housing needs by a council
of governments must include both the existing and projected housing needs of the locality.

                2. The availability of suitable housing sites must be considered based not only upon
the existing zoning ordinances and land use restrictions of the locality but also based upon the
potential for increased residential development under alternative zoning ordinances and land use
restrictions.
              3. The income categories of sections 6910-6932 of title 25 of the California
Administrative Code must be used.

                                                          ANALYSIS

               The three questions presented for analysis concern a city's or county's share of
regional housing needs as determined by a council of governments and set forth in its general plan.
In analyzing these questions we preliminarily note that every city and county operates under a
comprehensive and long-term general plan to guide its future physical development. (Gov. Code,
§ 65300; Buena Vista Garden Apartments Assn. v. City of San Diego Planning Dept. (1985) 175
Cal.App.3d 289, 294.)1 "The general plan is atop the hierarchy of local government law regulating
land use." (Neighborhood Action Group v. County of Calaveras (1984) 156 Cal.App.3d 1176,
1183.) Section 65300 states:

               "Each planning agency shall prepare and the legislative body of each county
       and city shall adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical
       development of the county or city, and of any land outside its boundaries which in
       the planning agency's judgment bears relation to its planning. Chartered cities shall
       adopt general plans which contain the mandatory elements specified in Section
       65302."

Section 65302 provides:

               "The general plan shall consist of a statement of development policies and
       shall include a diagram or diagrams and text setting forth objectives, principles,
       standards, and plan proposals. The plan shall include the following elements:

               "........................

              "(c) A housing element as provided in Article 10.6 (commencing with
       Section 65580).

               " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

               The "housing element as provided in Article 10.6" (§§ 65580-65589.8) must meet
detailed requirements. Section 65583 provides:

               "The housing element shall consist of an identification and analysis of
       existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, policies, quantified
       objectives, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and
       development of housing. The housing element shall identify adequate sites for

   1
    All section references hereafter to the Government Code are by section number only.

                                                                    2.                         87-206

       housing, including rental housing, factory-built housing, and mobilehomes, and shall
       make adequate provision for the existing and projected needs of all economic
       segments of the community. The element shall contain all of the following:

               "(a) An assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and
       constraints relevant to the meeting of these needs. The assessment and inventory
       shall include the following:

                "(1) Analysis of population and employment trends and documentation of
       projections and a quantification of the locality's existing and projected housing needs
       for all income levels. These existing and projected needs shall include the locality's
       share of the regional housing need in accordance with Section 65584.

              " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

Section 65584 states:

               "(a) For purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 65583, a locality's share of the
       regional housing needs includes that share of the housing need of persons at all
       income levels within the area significantly affected by a jurisdiction's general plan.
       The distribution of regional housing needs shall, based upon available data, take into
       consideration market demand for housing, employment opportunities, the availability
       of suitable sites and public facilities, commuting patterns, type and tenure of housing
       need, and the housing needs of farmworkers. The distribution shall seek to avoid
       further impaction of localities with relatively high proportions of lower income
       households. Based upon data provided by the Department of Finance, in
       consultation with each council of government, the Department of Housing and
       Community Development shall determine the regional share of the statewide housing
       need at least two years prior to the second revision, and all subsequent revisions as
       required pursuant to Section 65588. Based upon data provided by the Department
       of Housing and Community Development relative to the statewide need for housing,
       each council of governments shall determine the existing and projected housing need
       for its region. Within 30 days following notification of this determination, the
       Department of Housing and Community Development shall ensure that this
       determination is consistent with the statewide housing need and may revise the
       determination of the council of governments if necessary to obtain this consistency.
       Each locality's share shall be determined by the appropriate council of governments
       consistent with the criteria above with the advice of the department subject to the
       procedure established pursuant to subdivision (c) at least one year prior to the second
       revision, and at five-year intervals following the second revision pursuant to Section
       65588.

             "(b) For areas with no council of governments, the Department of Housing
       and Community Development shall determine housing market areas and define the

                                                                   3.                             87-206

       regional housing need for localities within these areas. Where the department
       determines that a local government possesses the capability and resources and has
       agreed to accept the responsibility, with respect to its jurisdiction, for the
       identification and determination of housing market areas and regional housing needs,
       the department shall delegate this responsibility to the local governments within
       these areas.

               "........................"

                 Section 65584 gives the Department of Housing and Community Development
("Department") various responsibilities including the duty to define the regional housing need for
localities2 in areas not covered by a council of governments, unless it has delegated such authority
to a local government. For cities and counties located in areas served by a council of governments,
the council performs this function.

                 Section 65584 requires the Department or a council to act when a housing element
of a city or county is revised "pursuant to Section 65588." The latter statute designates various dates
for housing element revisions, including for areas covered by specified councils of governments:

              "(1) Local governments within the regional jurisdiction of the Southern
       California Association of Governments: July 1, 1984, for the first revision and July
       1, 1989, for the second revision.

              "(2) Local governments within the regional jurisdiction of the Association of
       Bay Area Governments: January 1, 1985, for the first revision, and July 1, 1990, for
       the second revision.

              "(3) Local governments within the regional jurisdiction of the San Diego
       Association of Governments, the Council of Fresno County Governments, the Kern
       County Council of Governments, the Sacramento Council of Governments, and the
       Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments: July 1, 1985, for the first revision,
       and July 1, 1991, for the second revision."

Thereafter a housing element revision is required "not less than every five years." (§ 65588, subd.
(b).)

                The focus of the three inquiries is directed at both sections 65583 and 65584. Several
well-recognized principles of statutory construction aid our analysis of these legislative enactments.
In construing statutory language, we are to "ascertain the intent of the Legislature so as to effectuate

   2
     Throughout the statutory scheme "locality" is used interchangeably with "community," "local
government," and "jurisdiction" and means either the city or the county (or San Francisco which
is a city and county). (§ 65582, subd. (a).)

                                                  4.                                            87-206

the purpose of the law." (Select Base Materials v. Board of Equal. (1959) 51 Cal.2d 640, 645;
accord People v. Davis (1981) 29 Cal.3d 814, 828.) "In determining such intent, the court 'turns first
to the words themselves for the answer' [citations]." (People v. Craft (1986) 41 Cal.3d 554, 560.)
The words are to be given "their ordinary and generally accepted meaning." (People v. Castro
(1985) 38 Cal.3d 301, 310.) Moreover, "legislation should be construed so as to harmonize its
various elements without doing violence to its language or spirit." (Wells v. Marina City Properties,
Inc. (1981) 29 Cal.3d 781, 788.) "Wherever reasonable, interpretations which produce internal
harmony, avoid redundancy and accord significance to every word and phrase are preferred."
(Pacific Legal Foundation v. Unemployment Ins. Appeals Bd. (1981) 29 Cal.3d 101, 114.)
"Interpretive constructions which render some words surplusage, defy common sense, or lead to
mischief or absurdity, are to be avoided." (California Mfrs. Assn. v. Public Utilities Com. (1979)
24 Cal.3d 836, 844.)

               1. Existing and Projected Housing Needs

                The first question posed is whether the council's determination of a locality's share
is to include both the existing and projected3 housing needs of the locality. We conclude that it does.

                 Section 65584 directs a council to "determine the existing and projected housing need
for its region." The purpose of such determination is to calculate and apportion shares of this need
to all cities and counties in the region. "Each locality's share shall be determined by the appropriate
council of governments." (§65584, subd. (a).)

               Two components thus comprise the regional housing need: the existing housing need
and the projected housing need. When shares of the regional housing need are apportioned to the
communities in the area, each share contains both components. No provision of the statute remotely
suggests that one of the necessary components is to be omitted when apportioning shares.

                Such construction of section 65584 is supported by the language of section 65583.
As previously quoted, the latter statute requires that the housing element of a city or county contain
"a quantification of the locality's existing and projected housing needs for all income levels." It then
provides: "These existing and projected needs shall include the locality's share of the regional
housing need in accordance with Section 65584." Hence the reference in section 65583 to "existing
and projected housing needs" in conjunction with "the locality's share of the regional housing need"
clearly indicates that the latter incorporates both components.

               One of the purposes of the legislation governing housing elements is "[t]o ensure that
each local government cooperates with other local governments in order to address regional housing
needs." (§ 65581, subd. (d).) Regional housing needs include both existing and projected needs.
(§ 65584, subd. (a).) Both components are "addressed" by apportioning shares thereof to each

   3
   A locality's "projected" housing needs would be those for the next five-year period. (See §
65583, subds. (b), (c).)

                                                  5.                                            87-206

community in the region. By so construing section 65584, we give each of its provisions meaning
and carry out the apparent intent of the Legislature.

                In answer to the first question, therefore, we conclude that the determination of a
locality's share of the regional housing needs by a council of governments must include both the
existing and projected housing needs of the locality.

               2. Current Zoning Ordinances

                The second question concerns whether in making its determination of a locality's
share of the regional housing needs, a council of governments is to consider the availability of
suitable housing sites based upon the existing zoning ordinances and land use restrictions of the
locality or upon alternative zoning ordinances and land use restrictions that would allow the
potential for increased residential development. We conclude both existing and alternative zoning
ordinances and land use restrictions must be considered.

              The council of governments is directed to determine a locality's share of the regional
housing needs based upon the following criteria:

               "The market demand for housing, employment opportunities, the availability
       of suitable sites and public facilities, commuting patterns, type and tenure of housing
       need, and the housing needs of farmworkers [and the avoidance of] further impaction
       of localities with relatively high proportions of lower income households." (§ 65584,
       subd. (a).)

                We find no indication in section 65584 that current zoning ordinances and land use
restrictions are to limit the factor of "the availability of suitable sites." A housing site would be
unsuitable based upon its physical characteristics, not because of some governmental control of an
artificial and external nature. The planning process of sections 65583 and 65584 contemplates an
identification of adequate sites that could be made available through different policies and
development standards. Existing zoning policies would be only one aspect of the "available data"
upon which the factor of "the availability of suitable sites" is to be considered under section 65584.
To argue that this part of the general plan is required to conform to existing zoning practices would
be anomalous and circuitous, since section 65860 requires the zoning ordinances of a locality to be
consistent with its general plan. Subdivision (d) of section 65584 emphasizes this fact by expressly
providing that a local government's share of the regional housing need is not subject to reduction,
except in one narrow circumstance, by:

              ". . . any ordinance, policy, or standard of a city, county, or city and county
       which directly limits, by number, the building permits which may be issued for
       residential construction, or which limits for a set period of time the number of
       buildable lots which may be developed for residential purposes."

                                                  6.                                             87-206

                  Our construction of section 65584 is consistent with the goals of the statutory
scheme as a whole (§§ 65580-65589.8) and the particular requirements specified for housing
elements (§ 65583). The legislation has as its primary purpose "to expand housing opportunities and
accommodate the housing needs of Californians of all economic levels." (§ 65580, subd. (b).)
Cities and counties are directed to "recognize their responsibilities in contributing to the attainment
of the state housing goal." (§ 65580, subd. (a).) Each local government is "to cooperate with other
local governments and the state in addressing regional housing needs." (§ 65580, subd. (e).)
Allowing a city or county to prevent being allocated a share of the regional housing needs through
restricted zoning ordinances would be contrary to the manifest intent of the Legislature.4

               The housing element of a local government must specifically include:

               "An inventory of land suitable for residential development, including vacant
       sites and sites having potential for redevelopment, and an analysis of the relationship
       of zoning and public facilities and services to these sites." (§ 65583, subd. (a)(3).)

It is the "relationship" of current zoning ordinances that must be considered with respect to suitable
housing sites. No hint of limitation may be found in the use of the term "relationship." Section
65583 also requires that a housing element include a five-year program that will:

                   "Identify adequate sites which will be made available through appropriate
          zoning and development standards and with public services and facilities needed to
          facilitate and encourage the development of a variety of types of housing for all
          income levels
   . . . ." (§ 65583, subd. (c)(1).)

Such language unmistakably contemplates that zoning ordinances and land use restrictions may
require modification during the five-year period to accommodate a locality's projected housing
needs. Consistent with this interpretation is the requirement that the five-year program:

              "Address and, where appropriate and legally possible, remove governmental
       constraints to the maintenance, improvement, and development of housing." (§
       65583, subd. (c)(3).)

These "governmental constraints" must be analyzed in detail in the housing element; the element
must contain:

              "Analysis of potential and actual governmental constraints upon the
       maintenance, improvement, or development of housing for all income levels,

   4
    The only authorized exception is a locality's "moratorium on residential construction for a set
period of time in order to preserve and protect the public health and safety." (§ 65584, subd.
(d)(2).)

                                                  7.                                             87-206

       including land use controls, building codes and their enforcement, site
       improvements, fees and other exactions required of developers, and local processing
       and permit procedures." (§ 65583, subd. (a)(4).)

        In sum, a local government must provide in its housing element for the existing and projected
housing needs of all economic segments of the community. (§ 65583.) In doing so, it is required
to identify suitable housing sites. (§ 65583, subd. (a)(3).) The city or county must identify those
sites "which will be made available through appropriate zoning and development standards" during
the ensuing five-year period. (§65583, subd. (c)(1).) It must "undertake to implement the policies
and achieve the goals and objectives of the housing element through the administration of land use
and development controls." (§ 65583, subd. (c).) The required consideration and evaluation of
zoning changes necessary to meet the identified needs of the community would be precluded by
allowing existing zoning limitations to define what housing sites are "suitable."

                A council of governments thus would not be able to perform the task mandated for
it without consideration of land uses that are possible despite existing zoning restrictions. The
"suitable sites" factor to be considered by a council pursuant to section 65584 must be read in
conjunction with the phrase "land suitable for residential development" of section 65583 that
requires consideration of zoning limitations but is not limited to lands presently zoned for such
development.

      In answer to the second question, therefore, we conclude that a council of governments must
consider the availability of suitable housing sites based not only upon the existing zoning ordinances
and land use restrictions of the locality but also based upon the potential for increased residential
development under alternative zoning ordinances and land use restrictions when determining a
locality's share of the regional housing needs.

               3. Calculation of Income Levels

               The third question presented is whether a council of governments is required to
follow the regulations (Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 25, §§ 6910-6932) of the Department defining income
categories when determining a locality's share of the regional housing needs. We conclude that it
must.

               Regulation 6926 states in part:

                "'Very low income households' means persons and families whose gross
       incomes do not exceed the qualifying limits for very low income families established
       and amended from time to time pursuant to Section 8 of the United States Housing
       Act of 1937. The qualifying limits are set forth in Section 6932. These limits are
       equivalent to 50 percent of the area median income, adjusted for family size by the
       United States Department of Housing and Urban Development." (Cal. Admin. Code,
       tit. 25, § 6926, subd.(a).)

                                                  8.                                          87-206

Regulation 6928 provides in part:

              "'Lower income households' means persons and families whose gross
       incomes do not exceed the qualifying limits for lower income families as established
       and amended from time to time pursuant to Section 8 of the United States Housing
       Act of 1937. The qualifying limits are set forth in Section 6932. These limits are
       equivalent to 80 percent of the area median income, adjusted for family size and
       other adjustment factors by the United States Department of Housing and Urban
       Development." (Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 25, § 6928; subd. (a).)

Regulation 6930 states in part:

               "'Moderate income households' means persons and families who are not
       'lower income households' and whose gross incomes do not exceed 120 percent of
       the area median income adjusted for family size in accordance with adjustment
       factors adopted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
       in establishing income limits for lower income families. For purposes of this
       subchapter, the income limits are set forth in Section 6932." (Cal. Admin. Code, tit.
       25, § 6930, subd. (a).)

These regulations are authorized by and are consistent with Health and Safety Code sections 50079.5
(lower income households), 50093 (moderate income households), and 50105 (very low income
households).

                A council of governments must determine a locality's share of the regional housing
needs "of persons at all income levels within the area." (§ 65584, subd.(a).) This determination is
to be "[b]ased upon data provided by the Department." (Ibid.) It is the Department that assesses the
state housing needs upon which the regional housing needs are calculated. The Department is also
required to revise any determination of regional housing needs made by a council that is inconsistent
with the state housing needs. (Ibid.) The Department follows state law (Health & Saf. Code, §§
50079.5, 50093, 50105; Cal. Admin. Code, tit. 25, §§ 6910-6932) in categorizing income levels for
its calculations and the data provided to the councils. For a council to "base" its determinations
upon the Department's data, we believe that it is directed to use the income categories selected by
the Department. No other definitions of moderate income, lower income, or very low income may
be found in state law governing this issue.

              We note also that the Legislature has specifically referred to "persons and families
of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code" when
mandating the review and revision of housing elements. (§ 65588, subd.(d).)

                Requiring a council of governments to follow the income classifications established
by the Legislature and Department provides consistency between sections 65584 and 65588. Such
interpretation of the terms of section 65584 facilitates the administration of the state housing laws.
Allowing each council of governments, on the other hand, to create its own income classifications

                                                  9.                                           87-206

would be impractical and would defeat the purpose of meeting the state housing needs in a
consistent and effective manner. Uniformity of classification allows the local governments "to
cooperate with other local governments and the state in addressing regional housing needs." (§
65580, subd. (e).)

              In answer to the third question, therefore, we conclude that the income categories of
sections 6910-6932 of title 25 of the California Administrative Code must be used by a council of
governments when determining a locality's share of the regional housing needs.

                                             *****

                                               10.                                         87-206