The California housing crisis, which has become unmatched across the nation, has made it difficult for communities to grow and sustain healthy communities.
But as the State continues to roll out legislation to help address this widespread issue, local government agencies may struggle to stay on top of the changes.
Let’s explore why this legislation is coming into effect and how to manage your community in the face of these changes.
More than a housing shortage
A housing shortage is more than just not enough houses being built — it’s a multi-pronged issue.
What changes are making the most impact?
As the State continues to roll out and evolve, government agencies may struggle to stay on top of the cascading legislation from the State Department. As we work with communities across California, Interwest (a SAFEbuilt Company) is seeing the most change due to the following legislation.
Staying on top of continual housing code changes
While adding housing across California is the ultimate goal, local communities are facing additional challenges in the face of growing communities, including inadequate transportation and too few local resources to accommodate the quick expansion of their population.
While communities can revisit their regulations to create more ideal neighborhoods for development, government agencies are not ultimately responsible for building the homes that the State is looking to produce.
So, what can you do in the meantime?
Adapting to state legislation
While there’s no doubt that the need for housing continues to escalate, implementing these changes can be time-consuming.
That’s where we can help.
Interwest helps California communities throughout building projects, from the moment a developer comes to town, to the day the homeowner moves in. That includes:
- Fielding permits
- Providing certified plan reviewers and inspectors
- Improving responsive review processes to attract developers
In addition to building department services, we can also help communities with:
- Staying up to date on state law and making sure regulations are reflected in your local agency’s goals as much as possible
- Revising comprehensive plans to simplify building in your community (and attract developers)
- Protecting the unique aspects of your community while making room for necessary growth
- Preparing for the future by identifying where your community could benefit from additional growth and ensuring that your public works department is in sync to make your plans work together for the benefit of the community
