General Plan Elements and Updates

Housing Element Update

The development of a Comprehensive Housing Planning Program is underway! Want to be part of the future of housing in San Fernando? Make your voice heard by participating in the following activities and give us your input.

The City has released draft versions of the Zoning Code Update, the Corridors Specific Plan (SP-5) Update, and the Objective Design Standards! These documents set the rules and regulations for new and existing development in San Fernando.

We want to hear from you! The public review period is from February 2 to February 27. View the draft documents on the City’s website under the Community Development page and email your comments to: RGarcia@sanfernando.gov

Take the Community Survey

Workshops

  • Planning Commission Workshop: February 9, 2026
  • City Council Workshop: February 17, 2026

What will we do with this info? Community input will be gathered and considered in the following:

  • Community Stabilization Manual to inform residents of supportive programs for tenants and homeowners to prevent displacement and affirmatively further fair housing.
  • Historic Survey Update to the 2002 Historic Survey to identify eligible historic resources throughout the City to promote conversion or preservation of historic commercial buildings into housing while also promoting improvement or expansion of residential buildings to maintain quality of existing housing, neighborhoods, and health of residents.
  • City-wide Residential Objective Design Standards to set design standards for each type of residential development to promote neighborhood character while streamlining the development process.
  • Density Bonus Ordinance to comply with state housing law and to establish a local density bonus ordinance with potentially additional incentives, such as those that provide affordable housing for large families.
  • Zoning Code and San Fernando Corridors Specific Plan 5 (SP-5) Update to allow residential land use in areas identified in the Housing Element, streamline the review process, and comply with the latest state housing laws.
  • Streamline the Housing Development Process to ensure potential barriers that may hinder housing construction are removed and a smoother, more efficient approval process for housing projects.

Why are we doing this?

The City of San Fernando is implementing a Comprehensive Housing Planning Program to implement the goals and objectives of the 2021-2029 Housing Element. This effort if funded by the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The purpose of this program is to shape the development of critical planning documents that will guide housing production, preserve neighborhood character, and streamline city processes.

Fact Sheets

Housing Element

The City of San Fernando's Housing Element of the San Fernando General Plan must be updated and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) every eight years. On June 6, 2022, the City Council adopted the Housing Element for the 2021-2029 sixth cycle planning period. Subsequently, on August 9, 2022, the City received a compliance letter from the HCD, certifying that the adopted Housing Element was fully compliant with State Housing Element Law. This eight-year plan extends from October 15, 2021, through October 15, 2029.

The primary purpose of the Housing Element is to identify the City's housing needs and outline goals, policies, and programs to address them.

The Housing Element focuses on the following strategies and programs:

  1. Preserving and improving housing and neighborhoods.
  2. Providing adequate housing sites.
  3. Assisting in the provision of affordable housing.
  4. Removing governmental and other constraints to housing investment.
  5. Promoting fair and equal housing opportunities.

The City's Housing Element includes the following major components:

  • Demographic Analysis: An analysis of the City's demographic, household, and housing characteristics and related housing needs (Section II).
  • Constraints Review: A review of potential market, governmental, and infrastructure constraints to meeting San Fernando's identified housing needs (Section III).
  • Resource Evaluation: An evaluation of residential sites and financial and administrative resources available to address the City's housing goals (Section IV).
  • Housing Plan: The Housing Plan for addressing the City's identified housing needs, constraints, and resources; including housing goals, policies, and programs (Section V).

2021-2029 Housing Element(PDF, 53MB)

Safety Element

The Safety Element evaluates safety hazards in San Fernando, both existing and potential. It establishes policies and actions to avoid and reduce these hazards to protect the community. Topics covered in this chapter include:

  • Geologic and Seismic Hazards
  • Dam Failure Inundation Hazards
  • Peak Load Water Demand
  • Hazardous Materials Hazards
  • Climate Change Hazards

The Safety Element also establishes environmental justice policies and actions to reduce the disproportionate environmental burden present in San Fernando. The negative impact of environmental hazards and pollution on the San Fernando community is described across the following key focus areas:

  • Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
  • Public Facilities
  • Safe and Sanitary Homes
  • Physical Activity, Food Access, and Public Health
  • Civic and Community Engagement

Safety Element (Final, June 6, 2022)(PDF, 10MB)

Final Initial Study - Mitigated Negative Declaration

A Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the updated Housing and Safety elements. The Draft MND analyzed potential environmental impacts, included mitigation measures to mitigate any potential impacts to less than a significant level, and concluded that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment. The Draft MND was available for public review from December 16, 2021 to January 14, 2022, and three comments were received on the Draft MND. Responses to all comments received are included in the final Draft MND.

Final Initial Study - Mitigated Negative Declaration (5/12/22)(PDF, 5MB)

Parking Management Master Plan

In fall 2020, the City of San Fernando launched a Citywide Parking Management Master Plan. A parking management plan is a helpful tool to assist jurisdictions comprehensively address both the location and amount of parking in specified locations. Generally, a parking management plan serves as a road map for how cities can maximize the efficiency of existing parking and support future parking needs.

Learn More About the Parking Management Master Plan

Parking Management Master Plan(PDF, 31MB)

San Fernando Parking Management Master Plan Community Meeting (8/12/21)

San Fernando Parking Management Master Plan Community Meeting (5/6/21)

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