Housing Element 2023-2031

Draft Housing Element Update Cover

The City’s Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element is available for public review!

Required by state law, it includes an overview of housing policies and programs as well as identifies sites that can accommodate future growth to meet the City’s housing allocation.

Public Hearings and Availability of the 2023-2031 Draft Housing Element

The Draft Housing Element, a state-mandated plan for how the City of San Mateo can accommodate at least 7,000 new homes over the next 8 years, is now available for public review at City Hall and online. The Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element establishes goals, policies and programs to help address the City’s current and future housing needs. It is the City’s blueprint for housing-related decisions and sets an action plan for how to meet housing goals over the coming years. 

The formal 30-day public review period closed on May 6, 2022

*But public input can still be submitted while the Housing Element is a draft*

How to Get Involved

All feedback is welcome. However, the Housing Plan, Site Inventory, and Fair Housing Summary within the "San Mateo 2023-2031 Housing Element - DRAFT" document may be of particular interest to the community.

  • By email to: housing@cityofsanmateo.org. Please send email comments with subject line “Housing Element”.  
  • By mail to: Planning Manager, City of San Mateo, Planning Division, 330 West 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403
  • Submit comment online.

Attend an upcoming public hearing: 

  • City Council – Special Meeting on Monday, May 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Please visit the City's Public Meeting Portal for meeting agendas, reports, information and access. 

  1. Draft Housing Element Document
  2. Housing Element Timeline
  3. Public Mtg Material & Feedback

This Draft Housing Element document and the supporting appendices together are a very large publication. They are provided here in PDF format to help make it easier to access the information.

Stay Informed

Housing Programs and Policy Email Updates

More information will be added to this page when updates become available. Please check back frequently or sign up for the Housing Programs and Policy Updates email list to keep current on the progress and be notified of community events.

Let's Talk Housing

Let's Talk Housing is a collaborative effort of all the jurisdictions in San Mateo County focused on getting community feedback that will shape our Housing Elements – a housing plan that is part of every General Plan. Through an ongoing initiative called 21 Elements, we are working together to learn from and listen to the community about their housing needs, helping to make sure everyone is involved in shaping our shared future.

General Plan Updates - Strive San Mateo

The City is updating its General Plan at the same time as it is drafting the new Housing Element.  The City wants all residents, business persons, and community members to have a voice in the future of San Mateo.  Visit the General Plan project website to see how you can get involved: http://strivesanmateo.org

General Plan and Housing Element Timeline

General Plan Housing Element Timeline Opens in new window

View .pdf version of the timeline

Frequently Asked Questions & Background Information

For more information about the Housing Element, you may visit the FAQs online or download this PDF version.

In 2019, the City hosted “Community Conversations about Housing”.  To read what community members talked about, see the reports from two workshops on the Community Conversations webpage and select 'Feedback and Reports'.