For the Planning Commission Meeting of December 17, 2025
TO: Honorable Chairman and Planning Commissioners
APPROVAL: Christina Taylor, Director of Community Development
REVIEWED BY: Daniel Casey, Community Development Manager
FROM: Sandra Robles, Senior Planner
Title
Information Item - Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element Update (Receive and File): The draft Housing Element is provided to the Planning Commission for review ahead of the January 21, 2026 meeting, at which it will be formally presented and discussed for City Council recommendation. No action is required at this time.
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APPLICANT:
City of Rialto
150 S. Palm Avenue
Rialto, CA 92376
BACKGROUND:
The Housing Element is a State-mandated chapter of the City of Rialto’s General Plan and serves as the City’s primary policy document for identifying and addressing local housing needs. State law requires each jurisdiction to evaluate existing housing conditions, analyze future housing demand, and adopt goals, policies, and programs to support adequate housing for all income levels. For the 2021-2029 planning cycle, the Housing Element outlines Rialto’s strategy to maintain and expand its housing supply, identifies candidate housing sites, and establishes programs to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation as determined by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
Under California Government Code Article 10.6, cities must update their Housing Elements every eight years and ensure consistency with statewide housing goals. These goals emphasize providing a suitable living environment for all residents, encouraging cooperation between local government and the private sector, and ensuring adequate housing for households at all economic levels. Rialto’s 6th-Cycle Housing Element responds to these statutory requirements by analyzing demographics, housing stock conditions, governmental and nongovernmental constraints, fair housing considerations, and available housing resources. The City’s RHNA allocation for this cycle is 8,272 units, including 4,795 units affordable to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households.
The draft Housing Element presented at the December 17, 2025 Planning Commission meeting is provided for the Planning Commission’s receipt only, with no action requested at this time. As summarized in Table 3-50 and Appendix B, the City has identified a total development capacity of 16,197 units, providing an 8,726-unit buffer above the RHNA allocation. This buffer demonstrates Rialto’s ability to meet its housing needs across all income levels and reflects the City’s commitment to proactively provide housing opportunities. Providing the document now allows Commissioners adequate time to review its contents ahead of the scheduled January 21st meeting, during which formal discussion and direction will occur. The Housing Element will guide the City’s housing policies for the 2021-2029 cycle and must be adopted in compliance with State law to maintain eligibility for regional planning coordination, funding programs, and local land use authority.
Exhibit A includes the draft Housing Element Update. A digital version is available at the following link: <https://www.rialtoca.gov/633/Plan-to-House-Our-Rialto-Housing-Element>
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Division recommends that the Planning Commission receive and file the draft 2021-2029 Housing Element, providing an opportunity to review the document prior to the January 21, 2026 meeting, with no action requested at this time.