Bill Text: CA SB747 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Land use: surplus land.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-10-11 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 786, Statutes of 2023. [SB747 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB747-Enrolled.html
Bill Title: Land use: surplus land.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-10-11 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 786, Statutes of 2023. [SB747 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB747-Enrolled.html
Enrolled
September 19, 2023 |
Passed
IN
Senate
September 14, 2023 |
Passed
IN
Assembly
September 13, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
September 08, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
August 14, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
June 30, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Senate
May 18, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Senate
May 01, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Senate
April 13, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Senate
March 22, 2023 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 747
Introduced by Senator Caballero (Principal coauthor: Senator Seyarto) (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Ting) |
February 17, 2023 |
An act to amend Sections 54222, 54222.5, 54223, 54224, 54225, 54226, 54227, 54230, and 54230.5 of, and to amend and repeal Section 54221 of, the Government Code, relating to local government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 747, Caballero.
Land use: surplus land.
Existing law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Existing law defines terms for these purposes. Existing law defines “surplus land” to generally mean land owned in fee simple by a local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action in a public meeting declaring that the land is surplus and not necessary for the agency’s use. Existing law defines “agency’s use” to include land that is being used, is planned to be used pursuant to a written plan adopted by the local agency’s governing board, or is disposed of to support agency work or operations. Existing law excludes from “agency’s use” commercial or industrial uses or activities, or property disposed of for the sole purpose of investment or generation of revenue, unless the local agency is a district, except as specified, and the agency’s governing body takes specified
actions in a public meeting. Existing law excludes from these requirements the disposal of exempt surplus land by an agency of the state or any local government. Existing law requires a local agency to declare land as either surplus land or exempt surplus land, as supported by written findings, before a local agency may take any action to dispose of it. Under existing law, exempt surplus land includes, among other types of land, property that is used by a district for an “agency’s use” as expressly authorized, land for specified developments, including a mixed-use development, if put out to open, competitive bid by a local agency, as specified, and surplus land that is subject to specified valid legal restrictions.
This bill would define the term “dispose” for these purposes to mean the sale of the surplus property or a lease of any surplus property entered into on or after January 1, 2024, for a term longer than 15 years, including renewal options, as specified.
The bill would provide that “dispose” does not include entering a lease for surplus land on which no development or demolition will occur, regardless of the term of the lease. The bill would also redefine the term “agency’s use” to include property owned by a port that is used to support logistics uses, sites for broadband equipment or wireless facilities, and waste disposal sites.
This bill would revise and recast certain provisions related to exempt surplus land, including exempting surplus land that is less than one-half acre and not contiguous to land owned by a state or local agency that is used for open-space or low- and moderate- income housing purposes, and provisions related to mixed-use developments, among others. The bill would add various new categories of exempt surplus land, including (1) specified land that is owned by a California public-use airport on which residential uses are prohibited, (2) surplus land owned by a local agency whose primary
mission or purpose is to supply the public with a transportation system that is developed for commercial, or industrial uses or activities, for the sole purpose of investment if certain conditions are met, and (3) land transferred to a community land trust, as specified. The bill would also specify that certain legal restrictions are valid legal restrictions and would require that for surplus land that is subject to valid legal restrictions to be considered exempt surplus land, a declaration of exemption must be supported by documentary evidence, as provided.
This bill would specify that the law governing surplus land does not require a local agency to dispose of land that is determined to be surplus.
Existing law requires a local agency disposing of surplus land to send a written notice of availability of the property to specified local agencies and housing sponsors before disposing of the property or participating in
negotiations.
This bill would specify additional actions that are not considered “participating in negotiations” for purposes of the above-described notice of availability requirement, including issuing a request for proposals or negotiating a lease for purposes of complying with specified provisions of law.
Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to maintain on its internet website a list of all notices of availability throughout the state.
This bill would require the department to also maintain on its internet website a list of all entities, including housing sponsors, that have notified the department of their interest in surplus land for the purpose of developing low- and moderate-income housing.
Existing law requires an entity proposing to use surplus land for developing low- and moderate-income
housing shall agree to make available not less than 25 percent of the total number of units developed on the parcels at affordable housing cost for a period of at least 55 years.
This bill would instead require the entity to agree to make available not less than 25 percent of the total number of units developed on the parcels at affordable housing cost for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands.
Under existing law, a local agency that disposes of surplus land after receiving a notification from the Department of Housing and Community Development that the agency is in violation of the law governing surplus land is liable for 30% of the final sale price of the land. Existing law authorizes certain entities and interested persons to bring an action to enforce these provisions.
This bill would instead make a local agency that is in violation of these provisions liable for 30% of the applicable disposition value, which the bill would define. This bill would prohibit the penalties for violating these provisions from applying to nonsubstantive violations that do not impact the availability or construction of housing affordable to lower income households or the ultimate disposition of the land, as specified.
Existing law further requires the department to review, adopt, amend, or repeal guidelines to establish uniform standards to implement certain provisions and exempts those guidelines from the Administrative Procedure Act.
This bill would remove that exemption from the Administrative Procedure Act.
By imposing new duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 54221 of the Government Code proposed by Assembly Bill 480 to be operative only if this bill and Assembly Bill 480 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
This bill would make its operation contingent on the enactment of Assembly Bill 480 of the 2023-24 Regular
Session.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 54221 of the Government Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 40 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:54221.
As used in this article, the following definitions shall apply:(a) (1) “Local agency” means every city, whether organized under general law or by charter, county, city and county, district, including school, sewer, water, utility, and local and regional park districts of any kind or class, joint powers authority, successor agency to a former redevelopment agency, housing authority, or other political subdivision of this state and any instrumentality thereof that is empowered to acquire and hold real property.
(2) The Legislature finds and declares that the term “district” as used in this article includes all districts within the state, including, but not limited to, all special districts, sewer,
water, utility, and local and regional park districts, and any other political subdivision of this state that is a district, and therefore the changes in paragraph (1) made by the act adding this paragraph that specify that the provisions of this article apply to all districts, including school, sewer, water, utility, and local and regional park districts of any kind or class, are declaratory of, and not a change in, existing law.
(b) (1) “Surplus land” means land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action in a regular public meeting declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use. Land shall be declared either “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land,” as supported by written findings, before a local agency may take any action to dispose of it consistent with an agency’s policies or procedures. A local agency, on an annual basis, may
declare multiple parcels as “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land.”
(2) “Surplus land” includes land held in the Community Redevelopment Property Trust Fund pursuant to Section 34191.4 of the Health and Safety Code and land that has been designated in the long-range property management plan approved by the Department of Finance pursuant to Section 34191.5 of the Health and Safety Code, either for sale or for future development, but does not include any specific disposal of land to an identified entity described in the plan.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), “agency’s use” shall include, but not be limited to, land that is being used, or is planned to be used pursuant to a written plan adopted by the local agency’s governing board, for agency work or operations, including, but not limited to, utility sites, property owned by a port that is used to
support logistics uses, watershed property, land being used for conservation purposes, land for demonstration, exhibition, or educational purposes related to greenhouse gas emissions, sites for broadband equipment or wireless facilities, and buffer sites near sensitive governmental uses, including, but not limited to, waste disposal sites, and wastewater treatment plants. “Agency’s use” by a local agency that is a district shall also include land disposed for uses described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2).
(2) (A) “Agency’s use” shall not include commercial or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office development. Property disposed of for the sole purpose of investment or generation of revenue shall not be considered necessary for the agency’s use.
(B) In the case of a local agency that is a district,
excepting those whose primary mission or purpose is to supply the public with a transportation system, “agency’s use” may include commercial or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office development or be for the sole purpose of investment or generation of revenue if the agency’s governing body takes action in a public meeting declaring that the use of the site will do one of the following:
(i) Directly further the express purpose of agency work or operations.
(ii) Be expressly authorized by a statute governing the local agency, provided the district complies with Section 54233.5 if applicable.
(d) (1) “Dispose” means either of the following:
(A) The sale of the surplus land.
(B) The entering of a lease for surplus land, which is for a term longer than 15 years, inclusive of any extension or renewal options included in the terms of the initial lease, entered into on or after January 1, 2024.
(2) “Dispose” shall not mean either of the following:
(A) The entering of a lease for surplus land, which is for a term of 15 years or less, inclusive of any extension or renewal options included in the terms of the initial lease.
(B) The entering of a lease for surplus land on which no development or demolition will occur, regardless of the term of the lease.
(e) “Open-space purposes” means the use of land for public recreation, enjoyment of scenic beauty, or conservation or
use of natural resources.
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), “exempt surplus land” means any of the following:
(A) Surplus land that is transferred pursuant to Section 25539.4 or 37364.
(B) Surplus land that is less than one-half acre in area and is not contiguous to land owned by a state or local agency that is used for open-space or low- and moderate-income housing purposes.
(C) Surplus land that a local agency is exchanging for another property necessary for the agency’s use.
(D) Surplus land that a local agency is transferring to another local, state, or federal agency, or to a third-party intermediary for future dedication for the receiving agency’s
use, or to a federally recognized California Indian tribe. If the surplus land is transferred to a third-party intermediary, the receiving agency’s use must be contained in a legally binding agreement at the time of transfer to the third-party intermediary.
(E) Surplus land that is a former street, right-of-way, or easement, and is conveyed to an owner of an adjacent property.
(F) A housing development, which may have ancillary commercial ground floor uses, that restricts 100 percent of the residential units to persons and families of low or moderate income, with at least 75 percent of the residential units restricted to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Section 50052.5 or 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing
and 45 years for ownership housing, and in no event shall the maximum affordable sales price or rent level be higher than 20 percent below the median market rents or sales prices for the neighborhood in which the site is located.
(G) A mixed-use development that is more than one acre in area, that includes not less than 300 residential units, and that restricts at least 25 percent of the residential units to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing and 45 years for ownership housing.
(H) Surplus land that is subject to a valid legal restriction that is not imposed by the local agency and that makes housing prohibited, unless there is a feasible method to
satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the prohibition on the site. A declaration of exemption pursuant to this subparagraph shall be supported by documentary evidence establishing the valid legal restriction. For the purposes of this section, “documentary evidence” includes, but is not limited to, a contract, agreement, deed restriction, statute, regulation or other writing that documents the valid legal restriction.
(i) Valid legal restrictions include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(I) Existing constraints under ownership rights or contractual rights or obligations that prevent the use of the property for housing, if the rights or obligations were agreed to prior to September 30, 2019.
(II) Conservation or other easements or encumbrances that prevent housing development.
(III) Existing leases, or other contractual obligations or restrictions, if the terms were agreed to prior to September 30, 2019.
(IV) Restrictions imposed by the source of funding that a local agency used to purchase a property, provided that both of the following requirements are met:
(ia) The restrictions limit the use of those funds to purposes other than housing.
(ib) The proposed disposal of surplus land meets a use consistent with that purpose.
(ii) Valid legal restrictions that would make housing prohibited do not include either of the following:
(I) An existing nonresidential land use designation on the surplus
land.
(II) Covenants, restrictions, or other conditions on the property rendered void and unenforceable by any other law, including, but not limited to, Section 714.6 of the Civil Code.
(iii) Feasible methods to mitigate or avoid a valid legal restriction on the site do not include a requirement that the local agency acquire additional property rights or property interests belonging to third parties.
(I) Surplus land that was granted by the state in trust to a local agency or that was acquired by the local agency for trust purposes by purchase or exchange, and for which disposal of the land is authorized or required subject to conditions established by statute.
(J) Land that is subject to either of the following, unless compliance with this article is
expressly required:
(i) Section 17388, 17515, 17536, 81192, 81397, 81399, 81420, or 81422 of the Education Code.
(ii) Part 14 (commencing with Section 53570) of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code.
(K) Surplus land that is a former military base that was conveyed by the federal government to a local agency, and is subject to Article 8 (commencing with Section 33492.125) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The former military base has an aggregate area greater than five acres, is expected to include a mix of residential and nonresidential uses, and is expected to include no fewer than 1,400 residential units upon completion of development or redevelopment
of the former military base.
(ii) The affordability requirements for residential units shall be governed by a settlement agreement entered into prior to September 1, 2020. Furthermore, at least 25 percent of the initial 1,400 residential units developed shall be restricted to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands.
(iii) Before disposition of the surplus land, the agency adopts written findings that the land is exempt surplus land pursuant to this subparagraph.
(iv) Before disposition of the
surplus land, the recipient has negotiated a project labor agreement consistent with the local agency’s project stabilization agreement resolution, as adopted on February 2, 2021, and any succeeding ordinance, resolution, or policy, regardless of the length of the agreement between the local agency and the recipient.
(v) The agency includes in the annual report required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400 the status of development of residential units on the former military base, including the total number of residential units that have been permitted and what percentage of those residential units are restricted for persons and families of low or moderate income, or lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
A violation of this subparagraph is subject to the penalties described in Section 54230.5. Those penalties are in addition to any remedy
a court may order for violation of this subparagraph or the settlement agreement.
(L) Real property that is used by a district for an agency’s use expressly authorized in subdivision (c).
(M) Land that has been transferred before June 30, 2019, by the state to a local agency pursuant to Section 32667 of the Streets and Highways Code and has a minimum planned residential density of at least 100 dwelling units per acre, and includes 100 or more residential units that are restricted to persons and families of low or moderate income, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands. For purposes of this subparagraph, not more than 20 percent
of the affordable units may be restricted to persons and families of moderate income and at least 80 percent of the affordable units must be restricted to lower income households as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(N) (i) Land that meets the following conditions:
(I) Land that is subject to a sectional planning area document that meets both of the following:
(ia) The sectional planning area was adopted prior to January 1, 2019.
(ib) The sectional planning area document is consistent with county and city general plans applicable to the land.
(II) The land identified in the adopted sectional planning area document was dedicated prior to
January 1, 2019
(III) On January 1, 2019, the parcels on the land met at least one of the following conditions:
(ia) The land was subject to an irrevocable offer of dedication of fee interest requiring the land to be used for a specified purpose.
(ib) The land was acquired through a land exchange subject to a land offer agreement that grants the land’s original owner the right to repurchase the land acquired by the local agency pursuant to the agreement if the land will not be developed in a manner consistent with the agreement.
(ic) The land was subject to a grant deed specifying that the property shall be used for educational uses and limiting other types of uses allowed on the property.
(IV) At least 25 percent of the units are dedicated to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, at an affordable rent, as defined by Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, or an affordable housing cost, as defined by Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and subject to a recorded deed restriction for a period of 55 years for rental units and 45 years for owner-occupied units.
(V) The land is developed at an average density of at least 10 units per acre, calculated with respect to the entire sectional planning area.
(VI) No more than 25 percent of the nonresidential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document receives its first certificate of occupancy before at least 25 percent of the residential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document has received its first
certificate of occupancy.
(VII) No more than 50 percent of the nonresidential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document receives its first certificate of occupancy before at least 50 percent of the residential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document has received its first certificate of occupancy.
(VIII) No more than 75 percent of the nonresidential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document shall receive its first certificate of occupancy before at least 75 percent of the residential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document has received its first certificate of occupancy.
(ii) The local agency includes in the annual report required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400 the status of development, including the total square footage of the residential and
nonresidential development, the number of residential units that have been permitted, and what percentage of those residential units are restricted for persons and families of low or moderate income, or lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(iii) The Department of Housing and Community Development may request additional information from the agency regarding land disposed of pursuant to this subparagraph.
(iv) At least 30 days prior to disposing of land declared “exempt surplus land,” a local agency shall provide the Department of Housing and Community Development a written notification of its declaration and findings in a form prescribed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Within 30 days of receipt of the written notification and findings, the department shall notify the local agency if the department has
determined that the local agency is in violation of this article. A local agency that fails to submit the written notification and findings shall be liable for a civil penalty pursuant to this subparagraph. A local agency shall not be liable for the civil penalty if the Department of Housing and Community Development does not notify the agency that the agency is in violation of this article within 30 days of receiving the written notification and findings. Once the department determines that the declarations and findings comply with subclauses (I) to (IV), inclusive, of clause (i), the local agency may proceed with disposal of land pursuant to this subparagraph. This clause is declaratory of, and not a change in, existing law.
(v) If the local agency disposes of land in violation of this subparagraph, the local agency shall be liable for a civil penalty calculated as follows:
(I) For a first violation, 30 percent of the greater of the final sale price or the fair market value of the land at the time of disposition.
(II) For a second or subsequent violation, 50 percent of the greater of the final sale price or the fair market value of the land at the time of disposition.
(III) For purposes of this subparagraph, fair market value shall be determined by an independent appraisal of the land.
(IV) An action to enforce this subparagraph may be brought by any of the following:
(ia) An entity identified in subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, of Section 54222.
(ib) A person who would have been eligible to apply for residency in affordable housing had the
agency not violated this section.
(ic) A housing organization, as that term is defined in Section 65589.5.
(id) A beneficially interested person or entity.
(ie) The Department of Housing and Community Development.
(V) A penalty assessed pursuant to this subparagraph shall, except as otherwise provided, be deposited into a local housing trust fund. The local agency may elect to instead deposit the penalty moneys into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund. Penalties shall not be paid out of funds already dedicated to affordable housing, including, but not limited to, Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Funds, funds dedicated to housing for very low, low-, and moderate-income households, and federal HOME
Investment Partnerships Program and Community Development Block Grant Program funds. The local agency shall commit and expend the penalty moneys deposited into the local housing trust fund within five years of deposit for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units that are affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households.
(VI) Five years after deposit of the penalty moneys into the local housing trust fund, if the funds have not been expended, the funds shall revert to the state and be deposited in the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units located in the same jurisdiction as the surplus land and that are affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households. Expenditure of any penalty moneys deposited into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund pursuant to this
subdivision shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
(vi) For purposes of this subparagraph, the following definitions apply:
(I) “Sectional planning area” means an area composed of identifiable planning units, within which common services and facilities, a strong internal unity, and an integrated pattern of land use, circulation, and townscape planning are readily achievable.
(II) “Sectional planning area document” means a document or plan that sets forth, at minimum, a site utilization plan of the sectional planning area and development standards for each land use area and designation.
(vii) This subparagraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2034.
(O) Land that is
owned by a California public-use airport on which residential uses are prohibited pursuant to Federal Aviation Administration Order 5190.6B, Airport Compliance Program, Chapter 20 -- Compatible Land Use and Airspace Protection.
(P) Land that is transferred to a community land trust, and all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The property is being or will be developed or rehabilitated as any of the following:
(I) An owner-occupied single-family dwelling.
(II) An owner-occupied unit in a multifamily dwelling.
(III) A member-occupied unit in a limited equity housing cooperative.
(IV) A rental housing development.
(ii) Improvements on the property are or will be available for use and ownership or for rent by qualified persons, as defined in paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 214.18 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(iii) (I) A deed restriction or other instrument, requiring a contract or contracts serving as an enforceable restriction on the sale or resale value of owner-occupied units or on the affordability of rental units is recorded on or before the lien date following the acquisition of the property by the community land trust.
(II) For the purpose of this clause, the following definitions apply:
(ia) “A contract or contracts serving as an enforceable restriction on the sale or resale value of owner-occupied units” means a
contract described in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 402.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(ib) “A contract or contracts serving as an enforceable restriction on the affordability of rental units” means an enforceable and verifiable agreement with a public agency, a recorded deed restriction, or other legal document described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(iv) A copy of the deed restriction or other instrument shall be provided to the assessor.
(Q) (i) For local agencies whose primary mission or purpose is to supply the public with a transportation system, surplus land that is developed for commercial, or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office
development or for the sole purpose of investment or generation of revenue, if the agency meets all of the following conditions:
(I) The agency has an adopted land use plan or policy that designates at least 50 percent of the of the gross acreage covered by the adopted land use plan or policy for residential purposes. The adopted land use plan or policy shall also require the development of at least 300 residential units, or at least 10 residential units per gross acre, averaged across all land covered by the land use plan or policy, whichever is greater.
(II) The agency has an adopted land use plan or policy that requires at least 25 percent of all residential units to be developed on the parcels covered by the adopted land use plan or policy made available to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079 of the Health and Safety Code, at an affordable sales price or
rented at an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing and 45 years for ownership housing. These terms shall be included in the land use plan or policy and dictate that they will be contained in a covenant or restriction recorded against the surplus land at the time of disposition that shall run with the land and be enforceable against any owner or lessee who violates the covenant or restriction and each successor in interest who continues the violation.
(III) Land disposed of for residential purposes shall issue a competitive request for proposals subject to the local agency’s open, competitive solicitation process or put out to open, competitive bid by the local agency, provided that all entities identified in subdivision (a) of Section 54222 are invited to participate.
(IV) Prior to
entering into an agreement to dispose of a parcel for non-residential development on land designated for the purposes authorized pursuant to this subparagraph in an agency’s adopted land use plan or policy, the agency, since January 1, 2020, must have entered into an agreement to dispose of a minimum of 25 percent of the land designated for affordable housing pursuant to subclause (II).
(ii) The agency may exempt at one time all parcels covered by the adopted land use plan or policy pursuant to this subparagraph.
(R) Surplus land that satisfies all of the following conditions:
(i) The parcel is identified in the local agency’s circulation element or capital improvement program for future roadway development.
(ii) The parcel is no larger than two
acres.
(iii) The parcel and all adjacent parcels are zoned for retail commercial use, and the use of the parcel is consistent with the underlying zoning.
(iv) The parcel abuts a state highway right-of-way.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a written notice of the availability of surplus land for open-space purposes shall be sent to the entities described in subdivision (b) of Section 54222 before disposing of the surplus land, provided the land does not meet the criteria in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1), if the land is any of the following:
(A) Within a coastal zone.
(B) Adjacent to a historical unit of the State Parks System.
(C) Listed on, or determined by the State Office of Historic Preservation to be eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places.
(D) Within the Lake Tahoe region as defined in Section 66905.5.
(g) “Persons and families of low or moderate income” has the same meaning as provided in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.
SEC. 1.5.
Section 54221 of the Government Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 40 of the Statutes of 2023, is amended to read:54221.
As used in this article, the following definitions shall apply:(a) (1) “Local agency” means every city, whether organized under general law or by charter, county, city and county, district, including school, sewer, water, utility, and local and regional park districts of any kind or class, joint powers authority, successor agency to a former redevelopment agency, housing authority, or other political subdivision of this state and any instrumentality thereof that is empowered to acquire and hold real property.
(2) The Legislature finds and declares that the term “district” as used in this article includes all districts within the state, including, but not limited to, all special districts, sewer,
water, utility, and local and regional park districts, and any other political subdivision of this state that is a district, and therefore the changes in paragraph (1) made by the act adding this paragraph that specify that the provisions of this article apply to all districts, including school, sewer, water, utility, and local and regional park districts of any kind or class, are declaratory of, and not a change in, existing law.
(b) (1) “Surplus land” means land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action in a regular public meeting declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use. Land shall be declared either “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land,” as supported by written findings, before a local agency may take any action to dispose of it consistent with an agency’s policies or procedures. A local agency, on an annual basis, may
declare multiple parcels as “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land.”
(2) “Surplus land” includes land held in the Community Redevelopment Property Trust Fund pursuant to Section 34191.4 of the Health and Safety Code and land that has been designated in the long-range property management plan approved by the Department of Finance pursuant to Section 34191.5 of the Health and Safety Code, either for sale or for future development, but does not include any specific disposal of land to an identified entity described in the plan.
(3) Nothing in this article prevents a local agency from obtaining fair market value for the disposition of surplus land consistent with Section 54226.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a local agency is not required to make a declaration at a public meeting for land that is “exempt surplus
land” pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (E), (K), (L), or (Q) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) if the local agency identifies the land in a notice that is published and available for public comment, including notice to the entities identified in subdivision (a) of Section 54222, at least 30 days before the exemption takes effect.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), “agency’s use” shall include, but not be limited to, land that is being used, or is planned to be used pursuant to a written plan adopted by the local agency’s governing board, for agency work or operations, including, but not limited to, utility sites, property owned by a port that is used to support logistics uses, watershed property, land being used for conservation purposes, land for demonstration, exhibition, or educational purposes related to greenhouse gas emissions, sites for broadband equipment or wireless facilities, and buffer sites near
sensitive governmental uses, including, but not limited to, waste disposal sites, and wastewater treatment plants. “Agency’s use” by a local agency that is a district shall also include land disposed for uses described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2).
(2) (A) “Agency’s use” shall not include commercial or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office development. Property disposed of for the sole purpose of investment or generation of revenue shall not be considered necessary for the agency’s use.
(B) In the case of a local agency that is a district, excepting those whose primary mission or purpose is to supply the public with a transportation system, “agency’s use” may include commercial or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office development or be for the sole
purpose of investment or generation of revenue if the agency’s governing body takes action in a public meeting declaring that the use of the site will do one of the following:
(i) Directly further the express purpose of agency work or operations.
(ii) Be expressly authorized by a statute governing the local agency, provided the district complies with Section 54233.5 if applicable.
(d) (1) “Dispose” means either of the following:
(A) The sale of the surplus land.
(B) The entering of a lease for surplus land, which is for a term longer than 15 years, inclusive of any extension or renewal options included in the terms of the initial lease, entered into on or after
January 1, 2024.
(2) “Dispose” shall not mean either of the following:
(A) The entering of a lease for surplus land, which is for a term of 15 years or less, inclusive of any extension or renewal options included in the terms of the initial lease.
(B) The entering of a lease for surplus land on which no development or demolition will occur, regardless of the term of the lease.
(e) “Open-space purposes” means the use of land for public recreation, enjoyment of scenic beauty, or conservation or use of natural resources.
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), “exempt surplus land” means any of the following:
(A) Surplus land that is transferred pursuant to Section 25539.4 or 37364.
(B) Surplus land that is less than one-half acre in area and is not contiguous to land owned by a state or local agency that is used for open-space or low- and moderate-income housing purposes.
(C) Surplus land that a local agency is exchanging for another property necessary for the agency’s use. “Property” may include easements necessary for the agency’s use.
(D) Surplus land that a local agency is transferring to another local, state, or federal agency, or to a third-party intermediary for future dedication for the receiving agency’s use, or to a federally recognized California Indian tribe. If the surplus land is transferred to a third-party intermediary, the receiving agency’s use
must be contained in a legally binding agreement at the time of transfer to the third-party intermediary.
(E) Surplus land that is a former street, right-of-way, or easement, and is conveyed to an owner of an adjacent property.
(F) (i) A housing development, which may have ancillary commercial ground floor uses, that restricts 100 percent of the residential units to persons and families of low or moderate income, with at least 75 percent of the residential units restricted to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Section 50052.5 or 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands, and in no event shall the
maximum affordable sales price or rent level be higher than 20 percent below the median market rents or sales prices for the neighborhood in which the site is located.
(ii) The requirements of clause (i) shall be contained in a covenant or restriction recorded against the surplus land at the time of sale that shall run with the land and be enforceable against any owner who violates the covenant or restriction and each successor in interest who continues the violation.
(G) (i) Surplus land that is subject to a local agency’s open, competitive solicitation or that is put to open, competitive bid by a local agency, provided that all entities identified in subdivision (a) of Section 54222 will be invited to participate in the process, for a housing or a mixed-use development that is more than one acre and less than 10 acres in area, consisting of either a single
parcel, or two or more adjacent or non-adjacent parcels combined, that includes not less than 300 residential units, and that restricts at least 25 percent of the residential units to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands.
(ii) The requirements of clause (i) shall be contained in a covenant or restriction recorded against the surplus land at the time of sale that shall run with the land and be enforceable against any owner who violates the covenant or restriction and each successor in interest who continues the violation.
(H) (i) Surplus
land totaling 10 or more acres, consisting of either a single parcel, or two or more adjacent or non-adjacent parcels combined for disposition to one or more buyers pursuant to a plan or ordinance adopted by the legislative body of the local agency, or a state statute. That surplus land shall be subject to a local agency’s open, competitive solicitation process or put out to open, competitive bid by a local agency, provided that all entities identified in subdivision (a) of Section 54222 will be invited to participate in the process for a housing or mixed-use development.
(ii) The aggregate development shall include the greater of the following:
(I) Not less than three hundred residential units.
(II) A number of residential units
equal to 10 times the number of acres of the surplus land or 10,000 residential units, whichever is less.
(iii) At least 25 percent of the residential units shall be restricted to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent pursuant to Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands.
(iv) If nonresidential development is included in the development pursuant to this subparagraph, at least 25 percent of the total planned units affordable to lower income households shall be made available for lease or sale and permitted for use and occupancy before or at the same time with every 25 percent of
nonresidential development made available for lease or sale and permitted for use and occupancy.
(v) A violation of this subparagraph is subject to the penalties described in Section 54230.5. Those penalties are in addition to any remedy a court may order for violation of this subparagraph. A local agency shall only dispose of land pursuant to this subparagraph through a disposition and development agreement that includes an indemnification clause that provides that if an action occurs after disposition violates this subparagraph, the person or entity that acquired the property shall be liable for the penalties.
(vi) The requirements of clauses (i) to (v), inclusive, shall be contained in a covenant or restriction recorded against the surplus land at the time of sale that shall run with the land and be enforceable against any owner who violates the
covenant or restriction and each successor in interest who continues the violation.
(I) A mixed-use development, which may include more than one publicly owned parcel, that meets all of the following conditions:
(i) The development restricts at least 25 percent of the residential units to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands.
(ii) At least 50 percent of the square footage of the new construction associated with the development is designated for residential use.
(iii) The development is not located in an urbanized area, as defined in Section 21094.5 of the Public Resources Code.
(J) Surplus land that is subject to a valid legal restriction that is not imposed by the local agency and that makes housing prohibited, unless there is a feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the prohibition on the site. A declaration of exemption pursuant to this subparagraph shall be supported by documentary evidence establishing the valid legal restriction. For the purposes of this section, “documentary evidence” includes, but is not limited to, a contract, agreement, deed restriction, statute, regulation or other writing that documents the valid legal restriction.
(ii) Valid legal restrictions include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(I) Existing constraints under ownership rights or contractual rights or obligations that prevent the use of the property for housing, if the rights or obligations were agreed to prior to September 30, 2019.
(II) Conservation or other easements or encumbrances that prevent housing development.
(III) Existing leases, or other contractual obligations or restrictions, if the terms were agreed to prior to September 30, 2019.
(IV) Restrictions imposed by the source of funding that a local agency used to purchase a property, provided that both of the following requirements are met:
(ia) The restrictions limit the use of those funds to purposes other than housing.
(ib) The proposed disposal of surplus land meets a use consistent with that purpose.
(ii) Valid legal restrictions that would make housing prohibited do not include either of the following:
(I) An existing nonresidential land use designation on the surplus land.
(II) Covenants, restrictions, or other conditions on the property rendered void and unenforceable by any other law, including, but not limited to, Section 714.6 of the Civil Code.
(iii) Feasible methods to mitigate or avoid a valid legal restriction on the site do not include a requirement that the local agency acquire additional property rights or property interests belonging to third parties.
(K) Surplus land that was granted by the state in trust to a local agency or that was acquired by the local agency for trust purposes by purchase or exchange, and for which disposal of the land is authorized or required subject to conditions established by statute.
(L) Land that is subject to either of the following, unless compliance with this article is expressly required:
(i) Section 17388, 17515, 17536, 81192, 81397, 81399, 81420, or 81422 of the Education Code.
(ii) Part 14 (commencing with Section 53570) of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code.
(M) Surplus land that is a former military base that was conveyed by the federal government to a local agency, and is subject to Article 8
(commencing with Section 33492.125) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The former military base has an aggregate area greater than five acres, is expected to include a mix of residential and nonresidential uses, and is expected to include no fewer than 1,400 residential units upon completion of development or redevelopment of the former military base.
(ii) The affordability requirements for residential units shall be governed by a settlement agreement entered into prior to September 1, 2020. Furthermore, at least 25 percent of the initial 1,400 residential units developed shall be restricted to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health
and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands.
(iii) Before disposition of the surplus land, the agency adopts written findings that the land is exempt surplus land pursuant to this subparagraph.
(iv) Before disposition of the surplus land, the recipient has negotiated a project labor agreement consistent with the local agency’s project stabilization agreement resolution, as adopted on February 2, 2021, and any succeeding ordinance, resolution, or policy, regardless of the length of the agreement between the local agency and the recipient.
(v) The agency includes in the annual report required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400 the status of development of residential units on
the former military base, including the total number of residential units that have been permitted and what percentage of those residential units are restricted for persons and families of low or moderate income, or lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
A violation of this subparagraph is subject to the penalties described in Section 54230.5. Those penalties are in addition to any remedy a court may order for violation of this subparagraph or the settlement agreement.
(N) Real property that is used by a district for an agency’s use expressly authorized in subdivision (c).
(O) Land that has been transferred before June 30, 2019, by the state to a local agency pursuant to Section 32667 of the Streets and Highways Code and has a minimum planned residential density of at least 100 dwelling units
per acre, and includes 100 or more residential units that are restricted to persons and families of low or moderate income, with an affordable sales price or an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands. For purposes of this subparagraph, not more than 20 percent of the affordable units may be restricted to persons and families of moderate income and at least 80 percent of the affordable units must be restricted to lower income households as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(P) (i) Land that meets the following conditions:
(I) Land that is subject to a sectional planning area document that meets both of the following:
(ia) The sectional planning area was adopted prior to January 1, 2019.
(ib) The sectional planning area document is consistent with county and city general plans applicable to the land.
(II) The land identified in the adopted sectional planning area document was dedicated prior to January 1, 2019
(III) On January 1, 2019, the parcels on the land met at least one of the following conditions:
(ia) The land was subject to an irrevocable offer of dedication of fee interest requiring the land to be used for a specified purpose.
(ib) The land was acquired through a land exchange subject to a land offer agreement that grants the land’s
original owner the right to repurchase the land acquired by the local agency pursuant to the agreement if the land will not be developed in a manner consistent with the agreement.
(ic) The land was subject to a grant deed specifying that the property shall be used for educational uses and limiting other types of uses allowed on the property.
(IV) At least 25 percent of the units are dedicated to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, at an affordable rent, as defined by Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, or an affordable housing cost, as defined by Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and subject to a recorded deed restriction for a period of 55 years for rental units and 45 years for owner-occupied units.
(V) The land is developed at an average
density of at least 10 units per acre, calculated with respect to the entire sectional planning area.
(VI) No more than 25 percent of the nonresidential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document receives its first certificate of occupancy before at least 25 percent of the residential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document has received its first certificate of occupancy.
(VII) No more than 50 percent of the nonresidential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document receives its first certificate of occupancy before at least 50 percent of the residential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document has received its first certificate of occupancy.
(VIII) No more than 75 percent of the nonresidential square footage identified in
the sectional planning area document shall receive its first certificate of occupancy before at least 75 percent of the residential square footage identified in the sectional planning area document has received its first certificate of occupancy.
(ii) The local agency includes in the annual report required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400 the status of development, including the total square footage of the residential and nonresidential development, the number of residential units that have been permitted, and what percentage of those residential units are restricted for persons and families of low or moderate income, or lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(iii) The Department of Housing and Community Development may request additional information from the agency regarding land disposed of pursuant to this
subparagraph.
(iv) At least 30 days prior to disposing of land declared “exempt surplus land,” a local agency shall provide the Department of Housing and Community Development a written notification of its declaration and findings in a form prescribed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Within 30 days of receipt of the written notification and findings, the department shall notify the local agency if the department has determined that the local agency is in violation of this article. A local agency that fails to submit the written notification and findings shall be liable for a civil penalty pursuant to this subparagraph. A local agency shall not be liable for the civil penalty if the Department of Housing and Community Development does not notify the agency that the agency is in violation of this article within 30 days of receiving the written notification and findings. Once the department determines that the declarations
and findings comply with subclauses (I) to (IV), inclusive, of clause (i), the local agency may proceed with disposal of land pursuant to this subparagraph. This clause is declaratory of, and not a change in, existing law.
(v) If the local agency disposes of land in violation of this subparagraph, the local agency shall be liable for a civil penalty calculated as follows:
(I) For a first violation, 30 percent of the greater of the final sale price or the fair market value of the land at the time of disposition.
(II) For a second or subsequent violation, 50 percent of the greater of the final sale price or the fair market value of the land at the time of disposition.
(III) For purposes of this subparagraph, fair market value shall be determined by an
independent appraisal of the land.
(IV) An action to enforce this subparagraph may be brought by any of the following:
(ia) An entity identified in subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, of Section 54222.
(ib) A person who would have been eligible to apply for residency in affordable housing had the agency not violated this section.
(ic) A housing organization, as that term is defined in Section 65589.5.
(id) A beneficially interested person or entity.
(ie) The Department of Housing and Community Development.
(V) A penalty assessed pursuant to this subparagraph
shall, except as otherwise provided, be deposited into a local housing trust fund. The local agency may elect to instead deposit the penalty moneys into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund. Penalties shall not be paid out of funds already dedicated to affordable housing, including, but not limited to, Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Funds, funds dedicated to housing for very low, low-, and moderate-income households, and federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program and Community Development Block Grant Program funds. The local agency shall commit and expend the penalty moneys deposited into the local housing trust fund within five years of deposit for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units that are affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households.
(VI) Five years after deposit of the penalty moneys into the local housing trust fund, if the funds have not been
expended, the funds shall revert to the state and be deposited in the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units located in the same jurisdiction as the surplus land and that are affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households. Expenditure of any penalty moneys deposited into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
(vi) For purposes of this subparagraph, the following definitions apply:
(I) “Sectional planning area” means an area composed of identifiable planning units, within which common services and facilities, a strong internal unity, and an integrated pattern of land use, circulation, and townscape planning are readily achievable.
(II) “Sectional planning area document” means a document or plan that sets forth, at minimum, a site utilization plan of the sectional planning area and development standards for each land use area and designation.
(vii) This subparagraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2034.
(Q) Land that is owned by a California public-use airport on which residential uses are prohibited pursuant to Federal Aviation Administration Order 5190.6B, Airport Compliance Program, Chapter 20 -- Compatible Land Use and Airspace Protection.
(R) Land that is transferred to a community land trust, and all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The property is being or will be developed or rehabilitated as any
of the following:
(I) An owner-occupied single-family dwelling.
(II) An owner-occupied unit in a multifamily dwelling.
(III) A member-occupied unit in a limited equity housing cooperative.
(IV) A rental housing development.
(ii) Improvements on the property are or will be available for use and ownership or for rent by qualified persons, as defined in paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 214.18 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(iii) (I) A deed restriction or other instrument, requiring a contract or contracts serving as an enforceable restriction on the sale or resale value of owner-occupied units
or on the affordability of rental units is recorded on or before the lien date following the acquisition of the property by the community land trust.
(II) For the purpose of this clause, the following definitions apply:
(ia) “A contract or contracts serving as an enforceable restriction on the sale or resale value of owner-occupied units” means a contract described in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 402.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(ib) “A contract or contracts serving as an enforceable restriction on the affordability of rental units” means an enforceable and verifiable agreement with a public agency, a recorded deed restriction, or other legal document described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(iv) A copy of the deed restriction or other instrument shall be provided to the assessor.
(S) (i) For local agencies whose primary mission or purpose is to supply the public with a transportation system, surplus land that is developed for commercial, or industrial uses or activities, including nongovernmental retail, entertainment, or office development or for the sole purpose of investment or generation of revenue, if the agency meets all of the following conditions:
(I) The agency has an adopted land use plan or policy that designates at least 50 percent of the of the gross acreage covered by the adopted land use plan or policy for residential purposes. The adopted land use plan or policy shall also require the development of at least 300 residential units, or at least 10 residential units per
gross acre, averaged across all land covered by the land use plan or policy, whichever is greater.
(II) The agency has an adopted land use plan or policy that requires at least 25 percent of all residential units to be developed on the parcels covered by the adopted land use plan or policy made available to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079 of the Health and Safety Code, at an affordable sales price or rented at an affordable rent, as defined in Sections 50052.5 and 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing and 45 years for ownership housing. These terms shall be included in the land use plan or policy and dictate that they will be contained in a covenant or restriction recorded against the surplus land at the time of disposition that shall run with the land and be enforceable against any owner or lessee who violates the covenant or restriction and each successor in interest who
continues the violation.
(III) Land disposed of for residential purposes shall issue a competitive request for proposals subject to the local agency’s open, competitive solicitation process or put out to open, competitive bid by the local agency, provided that all entities identified in subdivision (a) of Section 54222 are invited to participate.
(IV) Prior to entering into an agreement to dispose of a parcel for non-residential development on land designated for the purposes authorized pursuant to this subparagraph in an agency’s adopted land use plan or policy, the agency, since January 1, 2020, must have entered into an agreement to dispose of a minimum of 25 percent of the land designated for affordable housing pursuant to subclause (II).
(ii) The agency may exempt at one time all parcels covered by the adopted
land use plan or policy pursuant to this subparagraph.
(T) Surplus land that satisfies all of the following conditions:
(i) The parcel is identified in the local agency’s circulation element or capital improvement program for future roadway development.
(ii) The parcel is no larger than two acres.
(iii) The parcel and all adjacent parcels are zoned for retail commercial use, and the use of the parcel is consistent with the underlying zoning.
(iv) The parcel abuts a state highway right-of-way.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a written notice of the availability of surplus land for open-space purposes shall be sent to the
entities described in subdivision (b) of Section 54222 before disposing of the surplus land, provided the land does not meet the criteria in subparagraph (H) of paragraph (1), if the land is any of the following:
(A) Within a coastal zone.
(B) Adjacent to a historical unit of the State Parks System.
(C) Listed on, or determined by the State Office of Historic Preservation to be eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places.
(D) Within the Lake Tahoe region as defined in Section 66905.5.
(g) “Persons and families of low or moderate income” has the same meaning as provided in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.
SEC. 2.
Section 54221 of the Government Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 40 of the Statutes of 2023, is repealed.SEC. 3.
Section 54222 of the Government Code is amended to read:54222.
Except as provided in Division 23 (commencing with Section 33000) of the Public Resources Code, any local agency disposing of surplus land, declared pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 54221, shall send before disposing of that property or participating in negotiations to dispose of that property with a prospective transferee, a written notice of availability of the property to all of the following:(a) (1) A written notice of availability for developing low- and moderate-income housing shall be sent to any local public entity, as defined in Section 50079 of the Health and Safety Code, that has jurisdiction where the surplus land is located. Housing sponsors, as defined by Section 50074 of the Health and Safety Code, that have notified the Department of Housing
and Community Development of their interest in surplus land shall be sent a notice of availability for the purpose of developing low- and moderate-income housing. All notices shall be sent by electronic mail, or by certified mail, and shall include the location and a description of the property.
(2) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall maintain on its internet website an up-to-date listing of, and a link to, all notices of availability throughout the state and a listing of all entities, including housing sponsors, that have notified the department of their interest in surplus land for the purpose of developing low- and moderate-income housing.
(b) A written notice of availability for open-space purposes shall be sent:
(1) To any park or recreation department of any city within which the surplus
land is located.
(2) To any park or recreation department of the county within which the surplus land is located.
(3) To any regional park authority having jurisdiction within the area in which the surplus land is located.
(4) To the State Resources Agency or any agency that may succeed to its powers.
(c) A written notice of availability of land suitable for school facilities construction or use by a school district for open-space purposes shall be sent to any school district that has jurisdiction where the surplus land is located.
(d) A written notice of availability for developing property located within an infill opportunity zone designated pursuant to Section 65088.4 or within an area
covered by a transit village plan adopted pursuant to the Transit Village Development Planning Act of 1994 (Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 65460) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7) shall be sent to any county, city, city and county, successor agency to a former redevelopment agency, public transportation agency, or housing authority within whose jurisdiction the surplus land is located.
(e) The entity desiring to purchase or lease the surplus land for any of the purposes authorized by this section shall notify in writing the disposing agency of its interest in purchasing or leasing the land within 60 days after the agency’s notice of availability is sent via certified mail or provided via electronic mail.
(f) For the purposes of this section, “participating in negotiations” does not include any of the following:
(1) The commissioning of appraisals, due diligence prior to disposition, discussions with brokers or real estate agents not representing a potential buyer, or other studies to determine value or best use of land, issuance of a request for qualifications, development of marketing materials, or discussions conducted exclusively among local agency employees and elected officials.
(2) Issuing a request for proposals or request for qualifications to the entities in subdivision (a) of Section 54222 for the purposes of complying with subparagraphs (A), (F), (G), (H), or (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 54221.
(3) Negotiating a lease, exclusive negotiating agreement, or option agreement for the purposes of complying with subparagraphs (A), (F), (G), (H), or (I) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 54221.
(4) Negotiating with a developer to determine if the local agency can satisfy the disposal exemption requirements described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 54221.
SEC. 4.
Section 54222.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:54222.5.
An entity proposing to use the surplus land for developing low- and moderate-income housing shall agree to make available not less than 25 percent of the total number of units developed on the parcels at affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or affordable rent, as defined in Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code. Rental units shall remain affordable to, and occupied by, lower income households for a for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing, 45 years for ownership housing, and 50 years for rental or ownership housing located on tribal trust lands. The initial occupants of all ownership units shall be lower income households, and the units shall be subject to an equity sharing agreement consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 65915. These requirements shall be contained in a covenant or restriction recorded against the surplus land at the time of sale that shall run with the land and shall be enforceable, against any owner who violates a covenant or restriction and each successor in interest who continues the violation, by any of the following:(a) The local agency that disposed of the surplus land.
(b) A resident of a unit subject to this section.
(c) A residents’ association with members who reside in units subject to this section.
(d) A former resident of a unit subject to this section who last resided in that unit.
(e) An applicant seeking to enforce the covenants
or restrictions for a particular unit that is subject to this section, if the applicant conforms to all of the following:
(1) Is of low or moderate income, pursuant to Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) Is able and willing to occupy that particular unit.
(3) Was denied occupancy of that particular unit due to an alleged breach of a covenant or restriction implementing this section.
(f) A person on an affordable housing waiting list who is of low or moderate income, pursuant to Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, and who is able and willing to occupy a unit subject to this section.
SEC. 5.
Section 54223 of the Government Code is amended to read:54223.
(a) After the disposing agency has received a notice of interest from the entity desiring to purchase or lease the surplus land on terms that comply with this article, the disposing agency and the entity shall enter into good faith negotiations to determine a mutually satisfactory sales price and terms or lease terms. If the price or terms cannot be agreed upon after a good faith negotiation period of not less than 90 days, the local agency may dispose of the surplus land without further regard to this article, except that Section 54233 shall apply.(b) Residential use shall be deemed an acceptable use for the surplus land for the purposes of good faith negotiations with a local agency conducted pursuant to this article. Nothing in this subdivision shall restrict a
local jurisdiction’s authority or discretion to approve land use, zoning, or entitlement decisions in connection with the surplus land. Except as provided in subdivision (c), terms agreed to pursuant to the negotiations shall not do any of the following:
(1) Disallow residential use of the site as a condition of the disposal.
(2) Reduce the allowable number of residential units or the maximum lot coverage below what may be allowed by zoning or general plan requirements.
(3) Require as a condition of disposal, any design standards or architectural requirements that would have a substantial adverse effect on the viability or affordability of a housing development for very low, low-, or moderate-income households, other than the minimum standards required by general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and
criteria.
(c) Terms agreed to pursuant to the negotiations required by subdivision (a) may include limitations on residential use or density if, without the limitations, the residential use or density would have a specific, adverse impact, supported by written findings, upon the public health or safety or upon the operation or facilities of a local agency, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate the impact.
SEC. 6.
Section 54224 of the Government Code is amended to read:54224.
Nothing in this article shall preclude a local agency that purchases surplus land from a disposing agency pursuant to this article from reconveying the surplus land to a nonprofit or for-profit housing developer for development of low- and moderate-income housing as authorized under other provisions of law.SEC. 7.
Section 54225 of the Government Code is amended to read:54225.
Any local agency disposing of surplus land to an entity described in Section 54222 that intends to use the land for park or recreation purposes, for open-space purposes, for school purposes, or for low- and moderate-income housing purposes may provide for a payment period of up to 20 years in any contract of sale or sale by trust deed for the land. The payment period for surplus land disposed of for housing for persons and families of low and moderate income may exceed 20 years, but the payment period shall not exceed the term that the land is required to be used for low- or moderate-income housing.SEC. 8.
Section 54226 of the Government Code is amended to read:54226.
(a) This article shall not be interpreted to limit the power of any local agency to sell or lease surplus land at fair market value or at less than fair market value, and any sale or lease at or less than fair market value consistent with this article shall not be construed as inconsistent with an agency’s purpose.(b) This article shall not prevent a local agency from obtaining fair market value for the disposition of surplus land consistent with this section.
(c) This article shall not be interpreted to limit a local agency’s authority or discretion to approve land use, zoning, or entitlement decisions in connection with the surplus land.
(d) This article shall not be interpreted to require a local agency to dispose of land that is determined to be surplus.
(e) No provision of this article shall be applied when it conflicts with any other provision of statutory law.
SEC. 9.
Section 54227 of the Government Code is amended to read:54227.
(a) In the event that any local agency disposing of surplus land receives a notice of interest to purchase or lease that land from more than one of the entities to which notice of availability was given pursuant to this article, the local agency shall give first priority to the entity or entities that agree to use the site for housing that meets the requirements of Section 54222.5. If the local agency receives offers from more than one entity that agrees to meet the requirements of Section 54222.5, then the local agency shall give priority to the entity that proposes to provide the greatest number of units that meet the requirements of Section 54222.5. In the event that more than one entity proposes the same number of units that meet the requirements of Section 54222.5, priority shall be given to the entity that proposes the deepest average level of affordability for the affordable units. A local agency may negotiate concurrently with all entities that provide notice of interest for the purpose of developing low- and moderate-income housing that meets the requirements of Section 54222.5.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), first priority shall be given to an entity that agrees to use the site for park or recreational purposes if the land being offered is already being used and will continue to be used for park or recreational purposes, or if the land is designated for park and recreational use in the local general plan and will be developed for that purpose.
SEC. 10.
Section 54230 of the Government Code is amended to read:54230.
(a) (1) On or before December 31 of each year, each county and each city shall make a central inventory of all surplus land, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 54221, and all lands in excess of its foreseeable needs, if any, identified pursuant to Section 50569, located in all urbanized areas and urban clusters, as designated by the United States Census Bureau, within the jurisdiction of the county or city that the county or city or any of its departments, agencies, or authorities owns or controls.(2) (A) Subject to subparagraph (C), each county and each city shall make a description of each parcel described in paragraph (1) and the present use of the parcel a matter of public record and shall report this
information to the Department of Housing and Community Development no later than April 1 of each year, beginning April 1, 2021, in a form prescribed by the department, as part of its annual progress report submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 65400.
(B) The information reported pursuant to this paragraph shall include, but not be limited to, the following information with respect to each site:
(i) Street address, or similar location information.
(ii) Assessor’s parcel number.
(iii) Existing use.
(iv) Whether the site is surplus land or exempt surplus land.
(v) Size in acres.
(C) The Department of Housing and Community Development may, in its discretion, delay implementation of this paragraph until April 1, 2022.
(3) Each county and each city, upon request, shall provide a list of its surplus land and excess surplus land to an individual, limited dividend corporation, housing corporation, or nonprofit corporation without charge.
(b) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall provide the information reported to it by a city or county pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) to the Department of General Services for inclusion in a digitized inventory of all state-owned parcels that are in excess of state needs.
SEC. 11.
Section 54230.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:54230.5.
(a) (1) A local agency that disposes of surplus land in violation of this article after receiving a notification from the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to subdivision (b) that the local agency is in violation of this article shall be liable for a penalty of 30 percent of the applicable disposition value for a first violation and 50 percent for any subsequent violation. These penalties shall not apply to nonsubstantive violations that do not impact the availability and priority of, or the construction of, housing affordable to lower income households or the ultimate disposition of the land in compliance with this article, such as clerical errors. An entity identified in Section 54222 or a person who would have been eligible to apply for residency in any affordable housing developed or a housing organization as defined in Section 65589.5, or any beneficially interested person or entity may bring an action to enforce this section. A local agency shall have 60 days to cure or correct an alleged violation before an action may be brought to enforce this section, unless the local agency disposes of the surplus land before curing or correcting the alleged violation, or the department deems the alleged violation not to be a violation in less than 60 days.(2) For the purposes of this section, “disposition value” means:
(A) In the case of a sale, the greater of the final sale price of the land or the fair market value of the surplus land at the time of sale, as determined by an independent appraisal of the surplus land sold in violation of this article.
(B) In the case of a lease, the
discounted net present value of the fair market value of the lease as of the date the lease was entered into, as determined by an independent appraisal of the lease of surplus land in violation of this article.
(3) A penalty assessed pursuant to this subdivision shall, except as otherwise provided, be deposited into a local housing trust fund. The local agency may elect to instead deposit the penalty moneys into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund. Penalties shall not be paid out of funds already dedicated to affordable housing, including, but not limited to, Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Funds, funds dedicated to housing for very low, low-, and moderate-income households, and federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program and Community Development Block Grant Program funds. The local agency shall commit and expend the penalty moneys deposited into the local housing trust fund within five years
of deposit for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units that are affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households.
(4) Five years after deposit of the penalty moneys into the local housing trust fund, if the funds have not been expended, the funds shall revert to the state and be deposited in the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units located in the same jurisdiction as the surplus land and that are affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households. Expenditure of any penalty moneys deposited into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund or the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund pursuant to this subdivision shall be subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
(b) (1) Before agreeing to terms for the disposition
of surplus land, a local agency shall provide to the Department of Housing and Community Development a description of the notices of availability sent, and negotiations conducted with any responding entities, in regard to the disposal of the parcel of surplus land and a copy of any restrictions to be recorded against the property pursuant to Section 54222.5, 54233, or 54233.5, whichever is applicable, in a form prescribed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. A local agency may submit this information after it has sent notices of availability required by Section 54222 and concluded negotiations with any responding agencies. A local agency shall not be liable for the penalty imposed by subdivision (a) if the Department of Housing and Community Development does not notify the agency that the agency is in violation of this article within 30 days of receiving the description.
(2) The Department of Housing and Community Development
shall do all of the following:
(A) Make available educational resources and materials that inform each agency of its obligations under this article and that provide guidance on how to comply with its provisions.
(B) Review information submitted pursuant to paragraph (1).
(C) Submit written findings to the local agency within 30 days of receipt of the description required by paragraph (1) from the local agency if the proposed disposal of the land will violate this article.
(D) Review, adopt, amend, or repeal guidelines to establish uniform standards to implement this section.
(E) Provide the local agency reasonable time, but not less than 60 days, to respond to the findings before taking
any other action authorized by this section.
(3) (A) The local agency shall consider findings made by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) and shall do one of the following:
(i) Correct any issues identified by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
(ii) Provide written findings explaining the reason its process for disposing of surplus land complies with this article and addressing the Department of Housing and Community Development’s findings.
(B) If the local agency does not correct issues identified by the Department of Housing and Community Development, does not provide findings explaining the reason its process for disposing of surplus land complies
with this article and addressing the Department of Housing and Community Development’s findings, or if the Department of Housing and Community Development finds that the local agency’s findings are deficient in addressing the issues identified by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the local agency, and may notify the Attorney General, that the local agency is in violation of this article.
(c) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall implement the changes in this section made by the act adding this subdivision commencing on January 1, 2021.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), this section shall not be construed to limit any other remedies authorized under law to enforce this article including public records act requests pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of
Title 1.