Table of Contents

Inclusionary Housing

The county's Sustainable Land Development Code addresses inclusionary housing in its Housing and Fair Housing chapter (Chapter 13). Inclusionary requirements apply to subdivisions of five or more parcels within the county. For subdivisions of 5–24 parcels, 8 percent of dwellings must be affordable; for subdivisions of 25 or more parcels, 15 percent of dwellings must be affordable. Units must be distributed among four income categories; the county incentivizes lower-income affordability (<65% AMI) by counting one lower-income-affordable unit as two required affordable units. Compliance alternatives include provision of affordable rental units with a 20-year affordability period.

The code provides standards that address unit integration and phasing; developers must submit an affordable housing plan and agreement. The county offers incentives for affordable unit provision, including density bonuses, relief from development fees and water utility charges for affordable units, and reduction of lot sizes.  Compliance alternatives include off-site construction, cash in-lieu payments, property dedication, or otherwise providing affordable dwellings. The code provides for hardship waivers.

The county’s Inclusionary Zoning Program website provides an overview of the program.

Solar Energy

The county's land development code prioritizes the development of solar and wind resources to maximize economic return and environmental preservation (§1.4.2.14), while monetizing solar and other renewable facilities to encourage priority infill development (§1.4.2.22). The code allows the Planning Commission to impose sustainability standards and requirements, including solar features, in conditional use permit approvals (§4.9.6.6.i). The code requires 75 percent of the dwellings in the Comunity College District to be located on south facing slopes and designed to use passive solar gain (§8.10.3.9.c).