Menlo Park’s Housing Element Certified by State of California

Published on March 21, 2024

The City of Menlo Park is pleased to announce that its 2023-2031 Housing Element has been certified by The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and is in substantial compliance with state Housing Element law. The Housing Element was adopted by the City Council Jan. 31, 2023, and amendments to the Housing Element were adopted by the City Council Jan. 23, 2024. 

“Certification is a major milestone for the City’s Housing Element and is essential to our efforts to meet the housing needs across all income levels,” said Mayor Cecilia Taylor. "This accomplishment was made possible through the hard work of the Menlo Park community.”

The Housing Element is a state-mandated part of the City’s General Plan and identifies how the city will accommodate its regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) of nearly 3,000 units at different levels of affordability and affirmatively further fair housing across the community. The Housing Element also includes policy commitments to streamline housing development regulations, increase allowable residential densities and provide new opportunities for residential and mixed use development on sites previously zoned for non-residential uses, and create options and incentives for a variety of housing types to meet resident needs. A compliance determination is crucial to maintaining the City’s eligibility for state and regional funding opportunities and helps maintain local control over future land use choices.

For information on the City’s Housing Element Update project, visit menlopark.gov/housingelement.