Housing Newsletter 2024

Welcome to the inaugural Housing Update newsletter aimed at keeping Sonoma County residents, developers, service providers, and other interested persons informed about housing-related news, regulatory changes, opportunities, and incentives.

Preliminary Funding Allocations and Upcoming Opportunities

The Sonoma County Community Development Commission (Commission) administers federal funding programs on behalf of the incorporated County cities and the County of Sonoma. These programs are comprised of the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grant, and the HOME American Rescue Plan Act.

The initiatives support affordable housing, fair housing, homeless prevention, and other services to address homelessness in the Urban County and are all designed to assist lower income households.

Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program

The Sonoma County Community Development Commission administers a housing rehabilitation loan program to provide direct financial assistance to owner-occupants in need of repairs on their single-family home, including mobile homes and owners of rental properties where at least half of the tenants are of lower income.

Additional information about this program can be found on the Commission website.

Sonoma County Designated “Prohousing” by State

The State Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department administers the Prohousing Designation Program. Sonoma County received its Prohousing Designation in 2023.

• Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC)
• Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG)
• Transformative Climate Communities (TCC)
• Solutions for Congested Corridors
• Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)
• Prohousing Incentive Pilot (PIP)

ADU Code Changes and Resources

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are small dwelling units allowed in conjunction with another primary dwelling unit in most residential, mixed-use, or agricultural zones.

The County ADU webpage features informational resources and checklists that will assist homeowners through the ADU permitting process.

• ADUs that are unpermitted may unknowingly present health and safety risks to the occupants.
• Legalizing the ADU would improve the potential for rental income and resale value.
• Legalization can eliminate worries about code enforcement actions.

ADU Rescue is a County program that allows qualifying ADU owners to ask for an enforcement postponement of up to five years while the ADU is being brought into compliance.

Tiny Home Update

Sonoma County now allows Transportable Housing Units (tiny homes on a chassis with wheels) on a temporary basis under certain circumstances through a Temporary Occupancy (TEM) permit.

In order to qualify, it must be for one of the following uses:

• To live in while a primary residence is being built on site.
• To use as a temporary ADU on parcels where ADUs are allowed.
• To house a caregiver for an ill person on site, or to house the ill person while receiving care.
• On parcels lost in recent wildfires until the home can be rebuilt.

Universal Design

Universal design is an environment designed and built to be accessed and used by all persons, regardless of ability or mobility.

Additional features are outlined in the Universal Design Checklist.

Saving Water and Energy

The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) offers Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for permanent energy, water, wildfire safety, and seismic strengthening improvements.

Benefits of financing with SCEIP include:

• Fixed interest rate of 7.49%
• No money down
• No income or credit qualifying
• Minimal fees (less than $200)
• Consumer protections

The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership helps provide regional water conservation programs and rebates.