Our Work
- Connect SoCal
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Awareness
- Programs & Projects
- Housing
- Economy & Demography
- Federal & State Compliance
- Sustainability
- Transportation
- Active Transportation
- Aviation Program
- Regional Pilot Initiatives Program
- The Future Communities Initiative
- Transportation Demand Management
- Transit Program
- FreightWorks
- Passenger Rail Program
- Corridor Planning
- Transportation Safety
- Transportation Finance
- Intelligent Transportation Systems
- Southern California Transportation Study
- Local Resources
- Funding & Programming
- Legislation & Advocacy
- Publications & Reports
Programs & Projects
SCAG serves as the regional forum for cooperative decision-making by local government elected officials and its primary responsibilities in fulfillment of federal and state requirements include the development of the Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy; the Federal Transportation Improvement Program; the annual Overall Work Program; and transportation-related portions of local air quality management plans.
SCAG’s other major functions include determining the regional transportation plans and programs are in conformity with state air quality plans; periodic preparation of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment; and intergovernmental review of regionally significant development projects.
Housing and land use are essential components of effective regional planning. SCAG’s Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy outlines a unified vision for a future where housing goals can be achieved alongside positive outcomes in transportation, sustainability, and economic prosperity. SCAG’s planning and policy development provides a forum for policy dialogue, information sharing, technical analysis, and consensus building on critical community, mobility, housing, and natural resource issues confronting the region.
SCAG’s state-mandated role is to develop the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) as part of the regular process of updating housing elements of local general plans. During the most recent 6th Cycle RHNA process, SCAG assigned a regional determination of 1.34 million housing units by 2029 to manage through the RHNA process.
SCAG’s role in advancing housing solutions has increased significantly in recent years to include the provision of funding, data, and technical assistance to support cities and counties in meeting housing production goals and finding new and innovative ways to realize the region’s housing goals.
SCAG’s work also advances the following housing principles:
- Supporting housing equity.
- Increasing housing supply and affordability.
- Aligning housing with transportation and sustainability.
- Advancing policy through engagement.
- Increasing housing diversity and choice.
- Advancing financial tools.
Housing Legislation
SCAG advocates at the state level to influence housing legislation with potential to impact the region. SCAG’s advocacy includes working with state legislators, participating in coalitions, and providing input on proposed laws and regulations. SCAG develops policy recommendations and best practices to address regional housing challenges, such as affordability, homelessness, and the need for diverse housing types.
Recent wins include the 2023 approval of Assembly Bill (AB) 785, which added new California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions for affordable housing projects and transitional housing projects for youth and young adults in the city of Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County. AB 785 also extended CEQA expiring exemptions for low-barrier navigation centers and supportive housing projects. The CEQA exemptions for these specified projects would have expired in 2030 unless extended or reauthorized. SCAG supported this bill in June 2023, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law in October 2023.
Also in 2023, AB 1332 passed requiring local governments to create a program for pre-approval of accessory dwelling units and approve or disapprove an application within 30 days of submission. SCAG took an active role in this legislation, working with Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo to amend the language and improve the bill and supporting the bill in June 2023. The governor then signed this bill into law in October 2023.
Learn more at the SCAG legislation and advocacy website.
6th Cycle Housing Element Update Resources
To comply with state housing law, jurisdictions within California must update their housing element every eight years during the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process. Housing elements are required to identify sites, rezone, and include other programs necessary for a jurisdiction to accommodate designated housing need. Housing elements guide the development community about where to deliver new housing and where to invest in housing-supportive infrastructure. In collaboration with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), SCAG has developed a variety of resources to assist local jurisdictions during the RHNA process. These data are available as complete reports and in raw format. HCD has certified the local housing data and Accessory Dwelling Units Affordability Analyses for local use in the housing element.
For more information, please contact us at housing@scag.ca.gov.
Reports were updated in April 2021 to include each jurisdiction’s final 6th cycle RHNA allocation. Excel versions of each jurisdiction’s data are available in the complete raw data and metadata file.
- Complete raw data and metadata (Excel, 36 MB)
- SCAG Regional Accessory Dwelling Unit Affordability Analysis
- Housing needs data certification letter from HCD
- Housing Element Parcel Tool (HELPR)
- External Tools and Resources
HCD Housing Planning Hub
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) launches the Housing Planning Hub Site, a repository of statewide and regional toolkits, factsheets, and guidance on a variety of housing policy areas with a specific focus on priority policy areas. The hub includes interactive maps, model ordinances resources, toolkits, checklists, and online trainings. HCD will continually update the resource center as new tools become available.
Housing Working Group
The Housing Working Group (HWG) is an interactive forum for workshops, panel discussions, and presentations covering a broad range of topics and themes identified as of potential interest by SCAG and the HWG. This group is open to housing stakeholders, housing professionals, and any other parties interested in housing issues.
Learn more about HWG on the RPWG website.
Get the latest information on SCAG’s Southern California economic and demographic data, along with analysis and resources.
- Related Links & Resources
Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation
The Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation is a partnership between Imperial County, local cities, elected officials and utilities, united by the common vision of expanding and diversifying the regional economy.Inland Empire Economic Partnership
The Inland Empire Economic Partnership is the area’s only regional economic development organization, which works closely with business and government leaders to make the Inland Empire a great place to live, work and invest.Orange County Business Council
For over 25 years, Orange County Business Council has been the leading voice of business reinforcing the economic influence of Orange County.Southern California Leadership Council
Formed to meet this challenge, the Southern California Leadership Council was founded in 2005 as a non-partisan, non-profit, business-led public policy partnership of business and community leaders.
SCAG is responsible for fulfilling certain state and federal requirements, including, among others, applicable requirements related to the following federal programs. Visit program pages to learn more.
SCAG’s Sustainability Program works actively with Southern California communities and stakeholders to create a dynamic regional growth vision based on the principles of mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability. The program’s work focuses on implementing the region’s Sustainable Communities Strategy, the state-mandated plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks through integrated transportation, land use, housing and environmental planning.
- Related Links & Resources
Air Resources Board
The mission of the Air Resources Board (ARB) is to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants while considering the effects on the state’s economy.Cal-Adapt
Cal-Adapt provides access to data and information that has been, and continues to be, produced by the state’s scientific and research community on how climate change might affect California at the local level.California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency.California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) brings together the state’s recycling and waste management programs and continues a tradition of environmental stewardship.California Department of Water Resources
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for managing and protecting California’s water.California Green Building Standards Code
California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), Title 24, Part 11.Natural Resources Agency
The mission of the Natural Resources Agency is to restore, protect and manage the state’s natural, historical and cultural resources using creative solutions based on science, collaboration and respect for all the communities and interests.
As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties, SCAG is mandated by the federal government to develop a multimodal long-range transportation plan that provides a 20-year vision for investing in our transportation system, and update it at least once every four years. Our plan, the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), addresses all modes of our transportation system, and reflects research and policy initiatives from each mode: active transportation, aviation and airport ground access, corridor planning, goods movement, high-speed rail, intelligent transportation systems, safety and security, transit, and transportation finance.
- Related Links & Resources
Transportation Funding in California
This California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) PDF brochure includes charts prepared as visual aids to show the sources and distribution of transportation funds in California.The California Department of Transportation
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) improves mobility across the state with core programs in Aeronautics, Highway Transportation, Mass Transportation, Transportation Planning, Administration and the Equipment Service Center.US DOT Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides stewardship over the construction, maintenance and preservation of the nation’s highways, bridges and tunnels.
