Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary) in Santa Rosa

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

What Santa Rosa's code says

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
How long units stay affordable	Affordability lasts at least 55 years. Applies: Applies to allocated units under a recorded affordability agreement. § 21-02.050 · code text Each allocated unit shall be subject to a recorded affordability agreement at the targeted income level for a term of at least 55 years.
Exemptions	Projects with 6 or fewer units pay a housing impact fee rather than provide on-site allocated units. § 21-02.050 · code text Residential or mixed-use development projects with six or fewer units shall pay a housing impact fee as noted in Section 21-02.090.
Fee instead of units	City Council resolution sets the fee. Applies: An alternative to on-site allocated units; required for projects with 6 or fewer units. § 21-02.090 · code text The City Council, by resolution, shall establish the amounts and calculation of the housing impact fee.
Share of affordable units	At least 8% must be affordable to low income households (or 5% for very low income). Applies: Applies to for-rent projects other than Downtown multifamily, of more than 6 units; smaller projects pay a housing impact fee. § 21-02.050 · code text For-rent residential development projects shall provide at least 8% of the total number of new dwelling units as affordable to low income households At least 5% must be affordable to very low income households. Applies: Alternative to 8% for low income; for-rent projects other than Downtown multifamily, of more than 6 units. § 21-02.050 · code text or at least 5% of the total number of new dwelling units as affordable to very low income households. At least 10% must be affordable to moderate income households. Applies: Applies to for-sale projects other than Downtown multifamily, of more than 6 units; smaller projects pay a housing impact fee. § 21-02.050 · code text For-sale residential development projects shall provide at least 10% of the total number of new dwelling units as affordable to moderate income households. At least 4% must be affordable to low income households (or 3% for very low income). Applies: Applies to for-rent Downtown multifamily projects of more than 6 units; smaller projects pay a housing impact fee. § 21-02.050 · code text For-rent multifamily residential development projects shall provide at least four percent of the total number of new dwelling units as affordable to low income households At least 3% must be affordable to very low income households. Applies: Alternative to 4% for low income; for-rent Downtown multifamily projects of more than 6 units. § 21-02.050 · code text or at least three percent of the total number of new dwelling units as affordable to very low income households. At least 5% must be affordable to moderate income households. Applies: Applies to for-sale Downtown multifamily projects of more than 6 units; smaller projects pay a housing impact fee. § 21-02.050 · code text For-sale multifamily residential development projects shall provide at least five percent of the total number of new dwelling units as affordable to moderate income households.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Santa Rosa require affordable units in new housing?

Santa Rosa's code: Affordability lasts at least 55 years. (Applies to allocated units under a recorded affordability agreement.) (§ 21-02.050); Projects with 6 or fewer units pay a housing impact fee rather than provide on-site allocated units. (§ 21-02.050).

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary) in Santa Rosa

What Santa Rosa's code says

Who this affects

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