FAQs
- Develop housing
- Maintain infrastructure
- Support economic vitality
- Maintain communities
- Support agricultural areas
- Preserve open spaces
What is Housing Unlocked?
The project title “Housing Unlocked” refers to the goals of this effort to make it easier to develop housing by changing zoning laws.
Who will the County of San Diego team engage with during this project?
The County is looking to engage with community members, property owners, and housing developers, as well as anyone else who is interested in this project! We welcome all perspectives, input and feedback.
How could this project support housing development in the County of San Diego?
The goals of this project are to make it easier to build more housing and different kinds of housing. This project will support housing by “unlocking” housing potential.
“Unlocking” housing in this project means to better align zoning requirements with the General Plan.
What is the General Plan?
The General Plan is the County’s long-term roadmap for growth in the unincorporated area. The General Plan outlines a sustainable approach to planning. It balances many priorities, including the need(s) to:
What is General Plan density?
The General Plan sets allowable uses of land. This includes density, which is how many housing units can be built per acre on residential land (dwelling units per acre or du/ac).
What is the Zoning Ordinance?
The Zoning Ordinance builds on the General Plan’s allowable land uses and densities. The Zoning Ordinance specifies more detailed requirements for building housing units through the Development Designators.
What is a Development Designator?
The Zoning Ordinance has more detailed requirements for developing housing. These zoning requirements are called Development Designators. This project is focusing on reviewing and changing the Zoning Ordinance and Development Designators to support the County's housing goals.
Why is the County updating the Zoning Ordinance?
The Housing Element implementation plan included multiple programs committed to update the Zoning Ordinance and Development Designators.
The Board of Supervisors adopted these implementation programs, which directed the Housing Unlocked project to better align zoning with the General Plan and County housing goals.
What is the Housing Element?
The Housing Element is a required part of the General Plan. The Housing Element includes goals and policies that will help the County meet its housing needs.
The Housing Element policies were set into an implementation plan. This plan includes 60 programs which the County is working on to meet its housing goals. The Housing Unlocked project was created to implement multiple Housing Element programs.