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Housing Element

Background
The State of California requires that the City Council adopt a comprehensive, long-term General Plan for the physical development of the City. The Housing Element is one of seven mandated elements of the General Plan and must be updated every eight years to address existing and projected housing needs across all segments of the community. Housing needs are determined through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process descried below. 

The City's current Housing Element (6th Cycle) covering the 2023-2031 planning period, was adopted by the Hollister City Council on April 20, 2026. The Housing Element is pending a full certification by the State of California Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Regional Housing Needs Allocation 
The housing need is determined by the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), which is mandated by State Housing Law, as a periodic process of updating local Housing Elements. The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) projects population growth by geographic region and designates the regional Council of Government (COGs) as the agencies responsible for determining how the potential growth is allocated among the jurisdictions within the regions. The association of Monterey Bay Area governments (AMBAG) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Counties of Santa Cruz and Monterey. Accordingly, the San Benito Council of Governments (SBCOG) is subject to a separate RHNA determination from HCD and is responsible for development of its own RHNA Plan.

SBCOG developed its methodology to determine that "fair share" distribution of the region's housing need to local jurisdictions. SBCOG adopted the Final 6th Cycle RHNA on October 20, 2022. SBCOG's 6th Cycle runs from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2031. On November 4, 2022, the Council of San Benito Government's (SBCOG) was informed by the HCD that it had reviewed and approved SBCOG's adopted RHNA Plan.

For the 6th Cycle, the City of Hollister has been allocated 4,163 housing units at specific affordability levels to accommodate the City's RHNA. The Housing Element must identify "adequate sites" to accommodate this estimated growth. The City is also required to provide programs, policies and appropriate zoning to incentivize this growth. 

RHNA Income Categories
 Income Category   % of Area Median Income (AMI)  Income Range*  RHNA  (Housing Units)
     Minimum    Maximum  
 Extremely Low Income  0 - 30%  --  $33, 400 423
 Very Low Income   31 - 50%  $33,401  $55,650 423
 Low Income  51 - 80%   $55,561  $89,050 678
 Moderate Income  81 -120%  $89.051  $168,250 826
 Above Moderate Income  >120%  $168,251  -- 1,813
       TOTAL:  4,163 units
* Income range is based on the 2023 HUD Area Median Income (AMI) for San Benito County of $140,200 for a family of 4.
* Approximately 40% of all households in Hollister fall into the Extremely Lot to Low-Income categories.

5th Cycle vs. 6th Cycle RHNA
Income Category   5th Cycle RHNA (2015-2023)
Housing Units		 6th Cycle RHNA (2023-2031)
Housing Units		  Unit Difference Percent Change
 Extremely Low / Very Low Income  312  846  +534  171%
 Low Income  189  678  +439  259%
 Moderate Income  258  826  +568  189%
 Above Moderate Income  557  1,813 +1,256  225%
 TOTAL:   1,316 units  4,163 units  +2,847 units  216%
Note: All jurisdictions with California has had changes in their RHNA the 5th cycle.  

It is important to note that while the city may assist with the development of affordable housing through various programs and funding sources, it is not the direct role of the City to construct housing. Rather, the City is responsible for ensuring that adequate opportunities exist for housing development through zoning and by removing regulatory impediments to housing production.
How We Got Here
On April 20, 2026, the City of Hollister City Council adopted the 2023-2031 Housing Element. To see the steps taken, past meeting dates and draft documents, please visit the Housing Element Process page.