Housing Development Resources

  1. Senate Bill 35

What is Senate Bill 35? 

SB 35 requires cities and counties to streamline the approval process for qualifying development projects and restricts local governments’ ability to reject these proposals. 

SB 35 requires local entities to streamline the approval by providing a ministerial approval process through which a project is only reviewed against objective standards, exempting the projects from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). 

This is a voluntary program that a project sponsor may elect to pursue, provided that certain eligibility criteria are met. These provisions sunset on January 1, 2026.

Where can I find more information? 

How can I apply for SB 35 Streamlining Approval?

  1. Fill out the SB 35 Preliminary Eligibility Determination Application Form and assemble all required supporting documentation and application fee.
  2. If Planning staff denies the Eligibility Determination Application Form as incomplete or ineligible for SB 35 processing, the applicant may revise the project to comply with SB 35 and resubmit the Eligibility Determination Application Form.
  3. Upon approval of an SB 35 Determination of Eligibility, submit a copy of the approval with any other required development applications for formal project review.
  1. Density Bonus Program

What is the State Density Bonus Law?

State Density Bonus Law (California Government Code Sections 65915-65918) sets requirements for cities to consider applications for density bonuses, concessions, incentives, waivers, and parking ratios to encourage the construction of affordable housing and housing for certain populations.

Where can I find more information?

How do I apply for the density bonus program?

Applications must be submitted to the Community Development Director with the required development application. All applications are subject to preliminary review to determine if the application submittal is complete. Application requirements can be found on the City of Woodland Density Bonus Program Information Sheet. 

  1. Environmental Review

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Overview

What is Environmental Review? 

The Current Planning Division reviews discretionary applications for potential environmental impacts in a process known as environmental review. The process aims to provide information on such environmental impacts of potential projects to decision-makers and the public for their consideration. Common types of environmental impact include traffic, noise, groundwater contamination, archaeological resources, vegetation, and wildlife.

If significant environmental impacts are identified, feasible mitigation measures must be included in a project to eliminate or reduce these impacts. Various State and City policies provide the basis for determining impacts and a means for ensuring that such impacts are mitigated.

How are Environmental Reviews conducted? 

Reviews are conducted pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Chapter 17 of the Woodland Municipal Code, which provide guidelines for implementing the CEQA process. The reviews identify any potential adverse environmental effects of proposed actions, assess their significance, and propose measures to eliminate or mitigate significant impacts. Certain actions identified by the state, known as Categorical Exemptions, are exempt from environmental review. Such exempt projects generally include small-scale new construction, some changes of use, some additions, and other generally small projects. These projects are enumerated in CEQA Guidelines.

What if my project requires an Environmental Review?

If your project requires an environmental evaluation, please fill out the Initial Study with Environmental Form. See also our Environmental Review Process and Flow Chart and Planning Forms for more details on application requirements.

Project-specific environmental review documents for the City of Woodland are posted on the Development Projects webpage. Environmental Review documents for the Woodland Research and Technology Park can be found on the Woodland Research and Technology Park webpage. 

CEQA Streamlining Opportunities

There are a variety of avenues for projects to receive CEQA relief, including SB 375 (PRC 21155.1) and SB 35, Infill Housing (PRC 21159.24 and 21159.25).

SB 375 CEQA Streamlining

SB 375 provides several CEQA reform provisions. These include streamlined review and analysis of residential mixed-use projects that meet certain criteria.

SB 35 CEQA Streamlining

California Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) creates a new streamlined approval process for multifamily residential projects in cities and counties not meeting their Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) goal. SB 35, which took effect January 1, 2018, requires local entities to streamline the approval of certain housing projects by providing a ministerial approval process (no CEQA), focused design review, and removing or lowering parking requirements. This is a voluntary program that a project sponsor may elect to pursue, provided that certain eligibility criteria are met. For more information on SB 35, see the SB 35 tab above.