City of Patterson Housing Element

Welcome!

The 6th Cycle Housing Element Update (2023-2031) will identify where and how the City of Patterson will accommodate existing and projected future housing needs. This page will be the center of online activity and residents are encouraged to visit frequently to engage in the process, provide feedback, find key documents, see upcoming meeting dates, and learn other information.

If you have questions about the site, please be sure to read through the City's Housing Element Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section.

Patterson Housing Element QuickFacts Brochure

Patterson Housing Element QuickFacts Brochure (SPANISH)

On December 2, 2025, City staff received a letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) stating that the City's Draft Housing Element meets the statutory requirements under Government Code Section 65585. Once the Housing Element is adopted by the City Council, the City will resubmit the adopted version to HCD for final approval, achieving substantial compliance with state requirements.

The Housing Element will be scheduled for a Planning recommendation and City Council public hearing in 2026.

State of California Correspondence to the City of Patterson - Housing Element 12-2-25

Following HCD’s 60-day review of the October 3, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element, the City anticipates receiving a letter of substantial compliance. Once received, the Housing Element will be presented to the Planning Commission for recommendation to the City Council, followed by a City Council hearing to consider adoption.

October 3, 2025: Revised Draft Housing Element Submitted to HCD for 60-day Review Period

The City received public comments on the August 6, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element. These are documented in Appendix C, Table C-1, along with the City’s responses, a description of minor revisions made in response to those comments, and page numbers identifying where revisions were incorporated. On October 3, 2025, the City submitted the Revised Draft Housing Element to HCD for a 60-day review period. This submittal addresses both HCD’s preliminary findings, as outlined in its May 2, 2025 90-day findings letter, and the public comments received during the August 6–22, 2025 review period.

Public comments are encouraged and may be submitted via email to jandrews@pattersonca.gov.

The following document(s) are available for review:

October 3, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element - Clean Version

October 3, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element - Track Changes

90-Day Findings & Revisions Matrix

Once the public review period concludes, the City will review all public comments received and respond as necessary. Any required revisions will be incorporated into the Housing Element. Following this, the City will submit the Revised Draft Housing Element to HCD for a 60-day review period.

Public Review Period Extended Additional Seven Days

The public review period for the August 6, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element has been extended by seven days and will run from August 15 through August 22.

Once the public review period concludes, the City will review all public comments received and respond as necessary. Any required revisions will be incorporated into the Housing Element. Following this, the City will submit the Revised Draft Housing Element to HCD for a 60-day review period.

August 6, 2025: Revised Draft Housing Element Seven-Day Public Review Period

On May 28, 2025, City staff and the City’s housing consultant met with representatives from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to discuss the 90-day findings on the Initial Draft Housing Element, which was submitted for review on February 3, 2025. A revised draft was subsequently submitted for HCD’s consideration on April 29, 2025. Following this, on July 30, 2025, an additional technical assistance meeting was held with HCD staff to review and discuss the necessary programmatic revisions outlined in the 90-day findings letter.

In response to the 90-day findings and subsequent technical assistance meetings with HCD, City staff and the housing consultant prepared a Revised Draft Housing Element to address the comments provided by HCD.

The 90-Day Findings and Revisions Matrix (linked below) outlines the changes required by HCD to achieve compliance with State housing law and identifies where corresponding revisions were incorporated into the August 6, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element.

The Revised Draft is now available for a seven-day public review period, beginning Wednesday, August 6, 2025, and concluding on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

Public comments are encouraged and may be submitted via email to jandrews@pattersonca.gov.

August 6, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element -Clean version

August 6, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element -Track change

90-Day Findings & Revisions Matrix

State of California - Correspondence to the City of Patterson Housing Element 5-2-25

The City is actively working to address HCD’s comments outlined in the 90-day findings letter and anticipates releasing a revised draft Housing Element for public review in the near future. Please check back for updates.

May 2, 2025: HCD 90-Day Findings Letter Received

The City received its 90-day findings letter from the HCD on May 2, 2025. While the letter acknowledges that the Housing Element addresses many statutory requirements, it identifies revisions needed for the document to achieve substantial compliance with State Housing Element Law.

The following document(s) are available for review:

  • May 2, 2025 HCD 90-Day Findings Letter

April 29, 2025: Revised Draft Housing Element Submitted to HCD for Consideration during 90-day Review Period

The City received public comments on the April 16, 2025 Revised Draft Housing Element, which are documented in Appendix C of the Housing Element along with the City's responses. The Revised Draft Housing Element was submitted to the HCD for review and consideration near the end of the 90-day review period. This submittal was intended to proactively address several of HCD’s preliminary findings with the goal of receiving a shorter and more focused 90-day findings letter.

The following document(s) are available for review:


The City anticipates submitting the Revised Draft Housing Element to HCD following the conclusion of the seven-day public review period. The submission will be made for HCD’s consideration prior to the issuance of its 90-day findings letter, scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025.

April 16, 2025: Revised Draft Housing Element Seven-Day Public Review Period

City Staff and the City's housing consultant met with representatives from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on April 2, 2025, to discuss preliminary findings on the Initial Draft Housing Element, which was submitted for a 90-day review on February 3, 2025. Following the meeting, HCD provided a matrix outlining preliminary findings that must be addressed to bring the Housing Element into compliance with State Law. The Preliminary Findings Matrix outlines the changes required by HCD to achieve compliance with State housing law and identifies where corresponding revisions were made in the Revised Draft Housing Element.

In response, City staff and the housing consultant prepared a Revised Draft Housing Element to address HCD's comments. The Revised Draft is now available for a seven-day public review period, beginning Wednesday, April 16, 2025, and ending Wednesday, April 23, 2025. 

Public comments are encouraged and may be submitted via email to jandrews@pattersonca.gov

The following documents are available for review:

February 3, 2025: HCD Initial Draft Housing Element Submitted to HCD for 90-Day Review

On February 3, 2025, the City submitted the HCD Initial Draft Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for its initial 90-day review. The draft reflects input received during the 30-day public review period. All public comments, along with responses and the corresponding page numbers where revisions were made, are documented in Appendix C of the HCD Initial Draft Housing Element.

To view the submitted HCD Initial Draft Housing Element, click the link below.

November 5 – December 5, 2024: Public Draft Housing Element 30-Day Review Period

In accordance with Government Code 65585(b)(1), the City released the Public Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element on November 5, 2024, for a 30-day public review period, from November 5 to December 5, 2024. The City invites public comments and will hold a Community/Planning Commission Workshop on November 12, 2024, to review the Housing Element update process, key components, and gather feedback. Comments may be submitted via email to planning@pattersonca.gov.

To review the Public Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element, click the link below.

Public Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element (PDF)

Housing Elements 101

The 2023-2031 Housing Element Update

The Housing Element is one of the City’s General Plan required elements (chapters). It is a comprehensive policy document that identifies where, how, and the amount of housing the City of Patterson needs to plan for to accommodate existing and projected housing needs for people of all income groups. In accordance with current State law, Patterson must update its Housing Element every eight years. The Housing Element was last updated in 2014 and was referred to as the 5th cycle Housing Element Update and covered the period between 2014 and 2023. The current update is commonly referred to as the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update.

In the 2023-2031 6th Cycle Update, the City is required to plan for 3,716 new housing units, also known as its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). The City expects that the 3,716 new housing units can be accommodated through past Housing Element sites and new locations. With your participation and input, we will plan for this growth while minimizing impacts on Patterson’s unique culture and environment.

Patterson Housing Element QuickFacts Brochure

Patterson Housing Element QuickFacts Brochure (SPANISH)

Be Part of the Solution!

If you're interested in helping Patterson plan for 3,716 new housing units, and would like to learn more about how to facilitate the creation of new housing click here to fill out our Property Owner Interest Form.

 Per Government Code 65583, the Housing Element update must include, at the minimum, the following sections:

  • An analysis of the City’s housing needs;
  • An inventory of housing sites to accommodate future growth;
  • An analysis of housing constraints that impact housing production;
  • Programs that implement the City's housing policies; and
  • Actions that promote and further fair housing opportunities.

The draft update will be reviewed for certification by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

 Milestone Tasks

Following are the milestone tasks that make up the total Housing Element Update process. As we get further into the process of preparing documents related to each milestone, new links and resources will be provided for each individual task.

  • Sites Inventory - current opportunity sites plus new sites will be considered in order to meet existing and future housing needs;
  • Policies, Programs, & Objectives - a review of existing policies, programs, and objectives from the 5th cycle to see what worked best along with any new policies required to meet State law including possible zoning changes to accommodate the City’s RHNA;
  • General Plan Consistency - preparing General Plan updates/revisions to ensure consistency with the Housing Element; and
  • California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) - any update to the General Plan requires some amount of environmental review.

 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: The Importance of AB 686

To combat a history of racial housing discrimination, segregation, and unequal access to opportunity, the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968. The Fair Housing Act prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) disability status, and family status. However, in the nearly 50 years since the Fair Housing Act was enacted, housing inequality, lack of access to opportunity, and racial and socio-economic segregation have persisted.

The passing of AB 686 in 2018 attempts to address these persistent inequities. For more information on AFFH and AB 686 you may refer to the following resources:

Resources

There is much to learn from each other on this journey towards 6th Cycle Housing Element Update certification. If you haven't already checked out the Housing Element Basics page, that may help answer some of your initial questions.

For a deeper dive into details and more information, click on the links below or the folders located to the right for information from the following sources:


For more information regarding our Housing Element Update, please contact us at (209) 895-8020, or one of the planners, email Joel Andrews at (209) 895-8024, or email Teresa Rodriguez at (209) 895-8026.