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Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary) in Goleta

Goleta's own rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text for every value.

Each rule below links to the section of the Goleta Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Goleta's code says

Goleta code What Goleta's code adds
How long units stay affordable
  • Affordability is generally kept for 55 years.
    Applies: A term under 55 years, but not less than 30, needs a City Council finding.
    § 17.28.050 · code text
    The term of affordability restrictions shall generally be 55 years but not less than 30 years
  • The affordability term is at least 30 years.
    Applies: Minimum term.
    § 17.28.050 · code text
    The term of affordability restrictions shall generally be 55 years but not less than 30 years
Exemptions
  • Building one single-unit dwelling on an existing R-zoned lot is exempt.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    Projects to construct one single-unit dwelling on an existing “R” zoned lot;
  • Affordable multiple-unit rentals by a nonprofit provider with City financial help, kept under a City affordable housing agreement, are exempt.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    An affordable, multiple-unit rental housing project that will be developed by a nonprofit housing provider receiving financial assistance from the City, so long as the project is maintained as an affordable project subject to an affordable housing agreement with the City;
  • Projects processed as accessory dwelling units are exempt.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    Projects processed pursuant to Section 17.41.030, Standards for Specific Use and Activities— Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU);
  • Additions, repairs or remodels adding no more than one unit are exempt, but not additions of one or more ADUs.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    Residential building additions, repairs, or remodels, provided that the work does not increase the number of existing units by more than one unit, excluding the addition of one or more ADUs;
  • Projects with 100 percent affordable units under government-controlled rents are exempt, except unsubsidized, unassisted HUD-insured units.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    Projects consisting of 100 percent affordable units in which rents are controlled or regulated by a government unit, agency, or authority, excepting those unsubsidized and/or unassisted units that are insured by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
  • Projects replacing or restoring units damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake or other disaster are exempt.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    Projects that replace or restore residential units damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, earthquake, or other disaster;
  • Units above the zone's allowed density, granted through a Density Bonus Agreement, are exempt.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    Units above the allowed density of a Zone District granted through a Density Bonus Agreement pursuant to Chapter 17.27, Density Bonus and Other Incentives.
Fee instead of units
  • The fee is a prorated share of the full-unit in-lieu fee for the fractional unit, to two decimal places.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 2 to 4 units, for the fraction in each income category.
    § 17.28.050 · code text
    For projects of two to four units, the developer must make an in-lieu fee payment in an amount equal to the percentage represented by the fractional unit (out to two decimal places) for each income category multiplied by the applicable in-lieu fee payment amount for a full unit at that income level.
  • The fee is a prorated share of the in-lieu fee for the remaining fractional unit, to two decimal places.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 5 or more units, for the fraction left after providing or combining units.
    § 17.28.050 · code text
    Any remaining fraction must be accounted for through an in-lieu fee payment in an amount equal to the percentage represented by the fractional unit multiplied by the applicable in-lieu fee payment amount. The amount of the inlieu fee payment will be in direct proportion to the fractional unit out to two decimal places.
  • The fee is set by City Council resolution and equals the value of building the affordable units on site.
    Applies: Applies only if on-site, off-site and land dedication are not feasible and the Review Authority approves.
    § 17.28.050 · code text
    The amount of the in-lieu fee payments must be of equal value to the provision of the affordable units on site as set by City Council resolution.
Projects it applies to
  • The rule applies to projects of 5 or more units.
    Applies: Multiple-unit projects must provide 20 percent affordable units.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Multiple-unit project developers proposing projects of five or more units must provide 20 percent affordable units of the total number of units.
  • The rule applies to projects adding 2 or more housing units.
    Applies: Counts units added on the site in the previous 5 years; projects of 2 to 4 units pay a fractional in-lieu fee.
    § 17.28.020 · code text
    The requirements of this chapter apply to every residential development project that includes the addition of two or more housing units, including units added on the site in the previous five years, unless exempt by subsection B.
Share of affordable units
  • 20 percent of the units must be affordable.
    Applies: Base requirement for multiple-unit projects of 5 or more units, split across income levels.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Multiple-unit project developers proposing projects of five or more units must provide 20 percent affordable units of the total number of units.
  • 15 percent of the units must be affordable.
    Applies: Applies to projects of 5 or more units; the Review Authority may reduce it from 20 percent on finding a public benefit exceeding Title requirements.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    The Review Authority may reduce the 20 percent affordability level to 15 percent upon making the required finding that a developer will provide a public benefit exceeding the requirements of this Title
  • 5 percent of units go to low-income households.
    Applies: Applies to projects at the 20 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Five percent affordable to low-income households;
  • 5 percent of units go to moderate-income households.
    Applies: Applies to projects at the 20 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Five percent affordable to moderate-income households;
  • 5 percent of units go to above-moderate-income households earning 120 to 200 percent of county median income.
    Applies: Applies to projects at the 20 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Five percent affordable to above moderate-income households earning 120 to 200 percent of the median income in the County.
  • 1 percent of units go to extremely low-income households.
    Applies: Applies to the reduced 15 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    One percent of the total number of units as affordable housing to extremely low-income households;
  • 1 percent of units go to very low-income households.
    Applies: Applies to the reduced 15 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    One percent of units to very low-income households;
  • 5 percent of units go to low-income households.
    Applies: Applies to the reduced 15 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Five percent of units to low-income households;
  • 4 percent of units go to moderate-income households.
    Applies: Applies to the reduced 15 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Four percent of units to moderate-income households;
  • 4 percent of units go to above-moderate-income households earning 120 to 200 percent of county median income.
    Applies: Applies to the reduced 15 percent affordability level.
    § 17.28.040 · code text
    Four percent of units to above moderate-income households earning 120 to 200 percent of median income in the County.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Does Goleta require affordable units in new housing?

Goleta's code: Affordability is generally kept for 55 years. (A term under 55 years, but not less than 30, needs a City Council finding.) (§ 17.28.050); The affordability term is at least 30 years. (Minimum term.) (§ 17.28.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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