KC neighborhood (77)
Housing Plan update landing page slideshow
20120407_Cbad_biking_55

At a glance

  • Since 1969, California law has required that all cities and counties demonstrate how they will meet the housing needs of everyone in the community.
  • Every eight years, the state, via our regional association of governments, tells cities how many homes they must plan for to accommodate people of varying income levels.
  • The state approved Carlsbad's housing plan, known as the housing element in July 2021, which details how Carlsbad will accommodate projected housing needs through 2029.
  • In addition to updating city housing policies, Carlsbad was required to designate space for about 3,900 new housing units, of which about 2,100 units need to be affordable for people with lower incomes.
  • On Jan. 30, 2024 the City Council voted to approve the rezoning of 16 properties around Carlsbad to meet state requirements. This action will help the city maintain control over where future housing could be built in the city and at what density.
  • The City Council's action did not approve any specific projects and the city does not build housing. Property owners would decide whether to build housing on these sites and when.

    Affordable housing report

    Post Date:02/08/2024 10:29 AM

    A proactive approach to funding affordable housing more than 30 years ago has resulted in the creation of 2,300 homes in Carlsbad affordable for those making between 30% to 80% of the area’s median income. City staff provided details in an annual report on its Housing Trust Fund presented to the City Council Tuesday.  

    The Housing Trust Fund was created as part of the city’s inclusionary housing program in 1993 to increase affordable housing for lower income households. Over the last 30 years, the program has led to the creation of approximately 2,300 affordable homes in Carlsbad.  

    • The program requires developers building new residential projects in Carlsbad to make 15% of the units affordable to people with low incomes. For projects with six units or less, developers can either include affordable housing or pay a fee. 

    • The fees go into the Housing Trust Fund, where they’re combined with interest payments and other funding to subsidize the cost of constructing affordable housing. None of the money comes from the city’s General Fund, which pays for most day-to-day city services. 

    • The Housing Trust Fund provides long-term loans for affordable housing projects and homelessness programs in the City of Carlsbad. Each dollar the city invests through the fund allows those projects to leverage additional outside financing and federal grants. 

    During the 2022-23 fiscal year, the city invested $4.5 million in Housing Trust Fund money for projects that directly benefit the community, such as: 

    Subsidizing the construction of new affordable housing ($4,087,226)
    Operating the city owned Tyler Court affordable apartments for seniors with low incomes ($84,002)
    Preservation of affordable housing ($20,647)
    Advancing programs to reduce homelessness in Carlsbad including short-term housing navigation programs and the operation of the Carlsbad Service Center, which connects at-risk individuals to daily job opportunities ($55,990) 

    Loan repayments and earned interest have kept the fund’s balance close to where it started. 

    More information 
    2022-23 Housing Trust Fund Annual Report 
    Affordable housing in Carlsbad 
    Mandy Mills, Housing & Homeless Services Director, mandy.mills@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2907 

    Return to full list >>