Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Status
2024 RHNA Reporting
As reported to the Board in April 2025, the County is 60% through the current 10-year RHNA cycle (2019-2028) with 49% of the total housing need permitted. Table 2 shows [A] the unincorporated county’s share of housing needs by income category, [B] examples of workers represented by each income category, [C] progress towards meeting those housing needs (represented in number of dwelling units permitted), and [D] the remaining number of dwelling units needed to meet those housing needs. Based on the most recent State Annual Progress Report data (CY2024), with four years left in the RHNA cycle, the unincorporated county still has remaining housing needs in all income categories, especially in the very low income category (only 1% completed). Table 1: Unincorporated County’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation Progress
| Income Category and example occupations |
Number of Dwelling Units | Percent Completed | ||
| Total Need | Permitted (2019-2024) |
Remaining Need | ||
| Very Low-Income (e.g., barista, farmworker, childcare employee) |
801 | 7 | 794 | 1% |
| Low-Income (e.g., family social worker, community health advocate, roofer) |
505 | 226 | 279 | 45% |
| Moderate-Income (e.g., occupational health worker, construction cost estimator, electrician) |
585 | 246 | 339 | 42% |
| Above Moderate-Income | 1,365 | 1,132 | 233 | 83% |
| Total | 3,256 | 1,611 | 1,645 | 49% |
Source: CY2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development
1. Based on the 2022 average wage study for the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande Metropolitan area by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
RHNA Strategy
Table 2 outlines the County’s approach, at a high level, to meet the housing need for each income category and the corresponding Housing Element Implementation Actions.
Table 2 outlines the County’s approach, at a high level, to meet the housing need for each income category and the corresponding Housing Element Implementation Actions.
Table 2: RHNA Strategy by Income Category
| Income Category | Approach | Housing Element Implementation Actions |
| Very Low- and Low-Income | Increase Local Contributions to Non-Profit Affordable Housing Builders | Action 02 – Establish Strategic Housing Incentive Program |
| Low- and Moderate-Income | Encourage Greater Accessory Dwellings and Manufactured Homes Production | Action 04 – Encourage Accessory Dwellings |
| Above Moderate- Income | Encourage Greater Multi-Family Housing Production | Action 01 – Encourage Multi-Family Development Action 05 – Expand Density Bonus Program Action 07 – Expand Ministerial Permitting (Streamlining) Action 08 – Designate Additional Land for Residential Use |
| Note: The County completed a market study for the 2020-2028 Housing Element that indicates accessory dwellings and manufactured homes are, on average, affordable to low- and moderate-income households (split equally between both categories) | ||