Planning

Utah’s Dedication to Affordable Housing

General plans are an advisory guide for land use decisions that will impact the growth of a jurisdiction over time. These comprehensive, long-range plans evaluate the present and future needs of the jurisdiction while also directing the growth and development of that jurisdiction. The general plan must cover land use and transportation and traffic circulation, and for certain jurisdictions moderate income housing and water use and preservation.  

Most jurisdictions must adopt a moderate income housing element in their general plan which includes an “analysis of how the jurisdiction will provide a realistic opportunity for development of moderate income housing within the next five years”. While all jurisdictions are highly encouraged to include a moderate income housing element in their general plan, and to take proactive steps towards creating affordable housing, the State of Utah requires jurisdictions which meet population criteria to adopt a moderate income housing element and provide annual reporting on it’s implementation.

Population Criteria

The Importance of Planning for Moderate Income Housing

The Utah Code of Amendment sections 10-9a-403(40) and 17-27a-403(43) define moderate income housing as “housing occupied or reserved for occupancy by households with a gross household income equal to or less than 80% of the median gross income for households of the same size in the county in which the housing is located.” The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Policy Development and Research provides county level data about income limits which can help you calculate the appropriate median income for your municipality or county.

By planning for moderate income housing, jurisdictions can target and direct housing development that will provide housing opportunities for large segment of their population. A first step in planning for moderate income housing requires cities and counties to identify key strategies, determine how the jurisdiction will implement them, and when these activities will occur. For a greater impact, and to ensure those strategies and implementations continue to work in the future, it’s imperative to analyze and revise the planning and implementation regularly. Our communities are forever changing. The direction and planning we take must be adjusted accordingly to ensure we’re supporting existing and future residents throughout Utah.

Resources

There are many resources to assist municipalities and counties in understanding their housing needs, supply, demand, demographics and other data related to housing.

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an extensive annual household survey produced by the U.S. Census Bureau which provides several tables of demographic and housing data on its website. HUD uses ACS data to create the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) datasets, which are tabulations of housing needs according to household income and program eligibility limits, which can be found on the HUDuser website.

The Housing and Community Development Division has developed planning tools and resources to support communities as they draft their moderate income housing elements. 

Moderate Income Housing Element Model Resolution

Affordable Housing Dashboard

In collaboration with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, a Utah Housing Affordability Dashboard has been created which identifies moderate and affordable housing needs, supply, and a 5-year projection across Utah communities with populations greater than 5,000 people.

Affordable Housing Dashboard

Analysis

Jurisdictions which have completed the initial report are required to submit an annual report that documents the progress that has been made to implement a strategy over the past year. This analysis is self-reported and reviewed by the Housing and Community Development Division. It gives the jurisdiction the ability to truly look at the strategies they’ve selected, the progress they’ve made toward implementation, as well as identify any barriers or issues they’ve run into over the year while trying to enable and encourage moderate income housing. This exercise can be an opportunity to identify when a strategy is working and whether changes need to be made to the city’s implementation plan or strategies.

More details about the annual report and analysis can be found on the Reporting page.

Questions?

If you have questions about the planning or reporting requirements, please email mih@utah.gov.