Nevada County will host a public community workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, to gather resident input on the 2027–2035 Housing Element Update, according to county announcements. The session runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers of the Eric Rood Administrative Center at 950 Maidu Ave. in Nevada City, giving local participants a direct venue to preview draft elements and discuss regional housing needs.
Understanding the State-Mandated Housing Element
Every California city and county must maintain a comprehensive general plan featuring mandatory elements covering land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise, and safety, as outlined by county planning documents. The California Department of Housing and Community Development reviews and certifies each jurisdiction’s housing plan. Under this framework, the state assigns a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) target representing the number of new residential units a jurisdiction must plan for over the cycle.
For unincorporated Nevada County, the state-assigned 7th-cycle target sits at 3,712 units. Across the entire county, the combined RHNA allocation reaches 7,055 units, broken down by local jurisdictions as follows:
- Unincorporated Nevada County: 3,712 units
- Truckee: 1,542 units
- Grass Valley: 1,377 units
- Nevada City: 424 units
To accommodate these figures, the county must demonstrate sufficient land zoned at densities capable of supporting multifamily and lower-income housing, or rezone designated parcels accordingly. County officials emphasize that the planning mandate stops at zoning; property owners are not required to construct the homes themselves. “Cities and counties do not generally build housing – that is the function of private developers,” the county’s administrative FAQ states.
Upcoming Timeline and Public Participation
The upcoming workshop follows an online housing survey that closed in September, which gathered local data on affordability, rental experiences, and perceived housing types needed across the area. Board of Supervisors Chair Lisa Swarthout noted the importance of early engagement, stating, “What we hear from small business owners and residents can help us understand what people need and what we should be thinking about as we plan for housing,” according to county releases.
Following the Sept. 29 workshop, the county expects to release a public draft in early October containing potential housing sites and rezoning strategies. That draft will trigger a 30-day public comment period before advancing to state regulators. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review an overview of the draft on Oct. 20, with final adoption hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors anticipated in spring 2027, meeting a statutory adoption deadline of May 15, 2027.
Residents seeking additional details can visit the municipal portal at nevadacountyca.gov/housingelementupdate or contact senior planner David Nicholas at 530-265-1257 or via email at David.Nicholas@nevadacountyca.gov.