Affordable Housing Overlay District
The purpose of the Affordable Housing Overlay District (AHO) is to promote the creation of affordable housing units beyond that which would be accomplished by the underlying zoning district, to enable the city to meet its housing goals, and to promote developments which are compatible with surrounding land uses through the establishment of special development standards and permitted densities.

Project applicants for properties with the AHO designation have the ability to develop under the standards of the base zoning district, or the AHO standards. Applicants submitting under the AHO development standards must provide for at least 10 percent very low-income units and 10 percent low-income units, in exchange for the following incentives: 

• Increased height limits
• Increased allowable density (20-25 dwelling units per acre)
• Reduced parking requirements
• Reduced open space standards
• Ministerial (by-right) development processing

 The AHO includes a special set of development standards, in addition to the City’s objective design standards. Project applicants are strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with city staff prior to submitting an application to ensure that certain project details are complete prior to submittal.

For further information about the Affordable Housing Overlay District or to set up a pre-application meeting, please contact Senior Planner Robby Nesovic at (818) 597-7310 or at RNesovic@AgouraHillsCity.org.

Affordable Housing in the City of Agoura Hills

Inclusionary Housing Program
Inclusionary housing provides for affordable housing units within otherwise market-rate residential developments. The City’s Inclusionary Housing Program requires that residential developments with ten (10) or more units provide a minimum of 15% of the units at a cost affordable to very low, low, and moderate-income households. Specifically, seven (7) percent of the total units must be allocated for very low income and four (4) each for low and moderate-income households. The specific provisions of the program are outlined in the City Inclusionary Ordinance (Ordinance 18-438).

Alternatives to providing the units within the market rate residential development include:

• Paying an in-lieu fee for all required affordable units (see City Council Resolution No. 18-1882                establishing a fee schedule).
• Providing some units on-site and paying an in-lieu fee for others.

Section 8 Housing
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is financed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Program provides rent subsidies through housing assistance payments to private landlords, who then provide housing units for very low-income individuals or families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) oversees the Program in the City of Agoura Hills. An individual or family that is issued a housing voucher from the LACDA is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit and paying a portion of their income towards the rent.

To apply for Section 8 assistance, and/or to find participating landlords/listings, please contact:

LACDA
P.O. Box 1503
Alhambra, CA 91802
www.lacda.org

For further information about affordable housing in the City of Agoura Hills, please contact Senior Planner Robby Nesovic at (818) 597-7310 or at RNesovic@AgouraHillsCity.org.

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