

Photo Credit: J. Candela

Photo Credit: J. Candela
Photo Credit: J. Candela
Get Involved with the Housing Element
Stay Informed
The City of Oroville Housing Element website will be the central location for citizens to learn about the purpose and content of the Housing Element, find out about community meetings and other ways to provide input, as well as tracking the progress of the Housing Element update and dates for important decision-making meetings.
Your Input is Essential
Broad public participation is an essential component of the Housing Element update process and we hope that all City residents will utilize this website as a tool to become informed and stay engaged.

What is the Housing Element?
California requires that all local governments, cities and counties adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. California’s local governments meet this requirement by adopting Housing Elements as part of their General Plan.
General Plans serve as the local government’s "blueprint" for how the city and/or county will grow and develop over a 15-20 year period, and include a minimum of seven mandatory elements: land use, transportation, conservation, noise, open space, safety, and housing. California’s housing element law acknowledges that, in order for the private market to adequately address the housing needs and demand of Californians, local governments must adopt plans and regulatory systems that provide opportunities for and do not unduly constrain, housing development.
As a result, housing policy in California rests largely on the effective implementation of local general plans and, in particular, local housing elements.
"Oroville CA (Nov 1955)" by davecito is licensed with CC BY 2.0.
Planning for the future of Oroville
Envision
The Housing Element is a statement of the community’s priorities with respect to housing its citizens, through the setting of goals for the allocation of funding, program coordination and zoning.
Engage
The Housing Element update process engages community members in a collaborative process to identify needs and set goals.
Plan
The Housing Element analyzes needs, constraints and resources, and lays out strategies to achieve the stated goals.
Act
While the City does not directly build housing, it facilitates production by guiding zoning policies, providing funding and partnering with developers, lenders and nonprofits.

"An effective housing element provides the necessary conditions for developing and preserving an adequate supply of housing, including housing affordable to seniors, families, and workers. Because the housing element must be regularly revised according to a legally mandated schedule, the update process provides the opportunity for jurisdictions to update their housing and land-use strategies to reflect changing needs, resources, and conditions."
- California Department of Housing and Community Development
Photo credit: ray_explores
How You Can Get Involved
Surveys
The City administered an online survey designed to solicit input on housing needs and goals. Learn More >
Community Meetings
Webinars and Virtual Meetings were utilized in place of in person outreach in accordance with CDC guidelines for in-person meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn More >
Social Media
The City’s Facebook provided regular updates on progress and reminders about opportunities to participate. Learn More >

What does the Housing Element Provide?
The Housing Element will:
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Perform an analysis of housing needs in Oroville, CA based on demographics and socioeconomic conditions
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Inventory the resources available to support housing development
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Shape goals, policies and actions that address housing needs based on these analyses and the collective vision of our community
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Establish a guiding framework for future legislation to follow
The Housing Element will shape the goals, policies and actions that address housing needs based on these analyses and the collective vision of our community.
"The housing element update can provide a mechanism to adopt efficient land-use strategies such as infill development, mixed-use development (e.g., housing on top of shopping, restaurants, or office space), or downtown revitalization. It can also provide a vehicle for local governments to adopt housing and land-use strategies that address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, promoting higher-density, infill housing for low-income workers or promoting housing along transit corridors, allowing more people to get out of their cars and use public transit.”
- California Department of Housing and Community Development
Stay Updated
Join our mailing list for the latest news and updates on the Housing Element 2022 Update.

Photo Credit: J. Candela
Since 1969, California has required that all local governments (cities and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. California’s local governments meet this requirement by adopting housing plans as part of their “general plan” (also required by the state).
California’s housing-element law acknowledges that, in order for the private market to adequately address the housing needs and demand of Californians, local governments must adopt plans and regulatory systems that provide opportunities for (and do not unduly constrain), housing development. As a result, housing policy in California rests largely on the effective implementation of local general plans and, in particular, local housing elements.