Contra Costa County, CA Affordable Housing

Type: Policy

Status: Adopted in October 2006

County Website: http://www.contracostahousing.org/

Description:

In October 2006, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an inclusionary housing policy for the County of Contra Costa. The policy requires a percentage of the homes in new residential developments to be affordable.

The new policy will help build homes within existing cities—not on the greenbelt—and help ensure that people don't have to move to the region's outskirts to find a home they can afford.

Here's what the new policy says and where it applies:

• The new inclusionary ordinance will require all new developments in the unincorporated areas of the county to either: include affordable homes in the new development; provide land for a non-profit developer; or pay a fee to be used by the county to create affordable housing.

• For new developments that include affordable homes, 15% of the new homes must be affordable.

• Homes for sale are defined as affordable if they cost no more than 40% of the income of households making up to $91,000 per year.

• Homes for rent are affordable if they cost no more than 33% of the income of households making up to $49,000 per year.

• Communities in the unincorporated areas of the county include North Richmond, Bay Point, Crockett, Rodeo, Kensington, Vine Hill, Alamo, Byron, Bethel Island, Knightson, and Discovery Bay.