Porterville, CA - On Tuesday, the Porterville City Council adopted the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element for the 2023–2031 planning period, concluding a nearly four-year planning and review effort that began in 2022. The adopted Housing Element will now be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for final certification.
The Housing Element is a State-mandated component of every city’s General Plan and outlines how Porterville will plan to accommodate assigned housing needs across all income levels. For the 6th Cycle, Porterville was allocated 4,064 housing units through the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process administered by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG).
City Manager Richard Tree highlighted the approval as an important step toward providing certainty for both residents and the development community.
“Certification of our Housing Element not only keeps Porterville eligible for State funding, it also gives us the local authority and predictability that investors, builders, and property owners need to confidently pursue projects in Porterville,” Tree said. “This is a foundational step for long-term economic development, job creation, and community growth.”
Tree added that certification protects Porterville from legal and financial risks associated with non-compliance, including litigation, loss of grant funding, and exposure to “Builder’s Remedy” provisions that can override local zoning.
Mayor Greg Meister emphasized the City Council’s focus on local control and modernizing development policy to attract investment.
“The Council believes the best decisions for our community are made here in Porterville,” said Mayor Meister. “While the Housing Element fulfills a statewide mandate, we are also updating our development ordinance to reduce unnecessary barriers, encourage investment, and support economic growth. Local control matters, and we are committed to a business-friendly approach that respects property rights, streamlines approvals, and strengthens our local economy.”
Mayor Meister also recognized TCAG and City staff for their collaboration.
“We would like to thank our regional partners at TCAG for their collaboration, and recognize the hard work of City staff throughout this nearly four-year process.”
Adoption of the Housing Element does not approve specific housing projects, automatically change zoning, or commit City funding. Instead, it establishes a policy framework that will guide future housing decisions while preserving the City’s ability to regulate development through community standards, infrastructure planning, and public safety needs.
Following adoption, staff will submit the Housing Element to HCD for final certification review. With Housing Element compliance underway and a comprehensive Development Ordinance update in progress, Porterville aims to send a clear message to residents, employers, builders, and investors: Porterville is open for business.
For more information about the Housing Element or the City’s long-range planning efforts, contact the City Manager’s Office at (559) 782-7499.
Porterville, lying along the foothills of the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountain range, is located on State Route 65, 165 miles north of Los Angeles. The city has a strategic central location to major markets and ready access to major transportation routes. Centrally located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Porterville is situated on the eastern edge of California's San Joaquin Valley, just 17 miles off State Route 99, a primary north-south transportation route. The city is approximately an hour from Fresno and Bakersfield and is a bustling city of over 62,000, serving as a trade center to over 100,000 people. Porterville serves as the gateway to the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, and is home to The Mighty 190, a local tourism collaboration that promotes countless outdoor adventures and natural amenities located along State Route 190 in southeastern Tulare County between Porterville and the Trail of 100 Giants. To learn more, please visit www.ci.porterville.ca.us or www.themighty190.com. Questions? Please contact yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us.