Development Code Update to Implement Housing Element Programs and Comply with State Law
The City of Mission Viejo is proposing updates to its Development Code to comply with the City’s certified Housing Element and State housing law. This work is being funded through a State grant program, REAP 2.0, administered through the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
These items were previously reviewed, and public input was received, during the update of the City’s Housing Element between mid-2021 through 2023. The amendments to the Development Code are intended to implement those previously discussed policies and programs. These changes aim to address housing needs across the community while maintaining clear and predictable development standards.
More recently, the City of Mission Viejo held an online public workshop on April 8, 2026, to share information and answer questions from the public before the proposed Code updates are considered by the City’s Transportation and Planning Commission (tentatively scheduled for July 13, 2026) and City Council (tentatively scheduled for August 25, 2026).
Below is a summary of the proposed Code amendments as well as a link to view the draft proposed Development Code text amendments. These amendments comply with State law and the City’s certified Housing Element:
- Low Barrier Navigation Centers: Updated regulations for these types of special shelter facilities will help people experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing. These centers would be allowed in certain non-residential and mixed-use areas, as required by State law and consistent with the City’s Certified Housing Element.
- Emergency Shelters: The City will create an overlay zone for emergency shelters in the Business Park zone, including updated development and operational standards to meet State law and the City’s Certified Housing Element.
- Supportive Housing: Small supportive housing developments (50 units or fewer) will be allowed by right in areas where multi-family or mixed-use buildings are already permitted, as required by State law and consistent with the City’s Certified Housing Element. Supportive housing includes long-term housing with on-site services for people who need extra support.
- Employee Housing: Amended regulations would allow housing for six or fewer employees to be treated the same as a single-family household and allowed wherever single-family uses are permitted, as required by State law and consistent with the City’s Certified Housing Element.
- Residential Care Facilities: To comply with the City’s Certified Housing Element, residential care homes serving seven or more people will be allowed in residential neighborhoods, subject to a public review process and clear standards to ensure compatibility with nearby homes, as provided for in State housing law.
- Reasonable Accommodation: To comply with the City’s Certified Housing Element, the City will amend its rules for disability-related housing requests by removing certain findings that are no longer allowed under State and federal law, making the process more clear and equitable.
- Senior Housing: To comply with the City’s Certified Housing Element and State law, the City will amend the Zoning Code to remove the Senior Housing Overlay and incentivize senior housing through parking incentives.
- Residential Lot Splits and Duplexes (SB 9): As provided for in State Law and consistent with the City’s Certified Housing Element, the City will adopt local regulations to meet SB 9 which allows eligible property owners to divide one residential lot into two, building up to two units on each newly created lot for a total of four units. Homeowners can also build two units on a single lot (or convert a single- family home into a duplex), all as provided for in State law.
- Building Height Limit Adjustments: The City will allow increased heights for residential buildings in certain higher-density zones to comply with the City’s Certified Housing Element.
For more information, please contact Cliff Jones, Planning and Economic Development Manager, at CD@cityofmissionviejo.org.