San Diego, San Diego County is on track to meet its entire eight-year state housing requirement years ahead of schedule, after permitting 6,577 homes — 98% of its total housing target — just halfway through the current housing cycle.

If current trends continue, the County is projected to exceed the state mandate by roughly 50–60%, placing it among the only jurisdictions in the region on pace to fully deliver on state housing goals.

Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, who has led efforts to streamline housing approvals, align zoning with state law, and direct major new affordable housing investments, said the data shows local government can move faster to address rising housing costs.

“For too long, the housing shortage has been treated as inevitable,” Lawson-Remer said. “We made a different choice — cut red tape, prioritize housing, and build faster. Now, San Diego County is leading the region in meeting state housing goals years ahead of schedule. We’ve got more work ahead, and we’re not slowing down.”

Housing production has already surpassed state targets for moderate and above-moderate income homes, reflecting strong overall construction momentum following recent policy reforms.

However, the report also underscores the ongoing challenge of producing homes affordable to very low-income residents, a gap that jurisdictions across California are struggling to close.

That progress runs alongside a separate, parallel investment strategy. Since 2021, the County has awarded funding for 4,022 affordable homes across 46 developments — subsidized units for the seniors, teachers,  and families the private market won't reach on its own. Most of these homes are located in cities and fall outside the state's RHNA accounting, but County officials say they are central to the region's affordability response. Since 2021, the County has awarded funding for: 

• 1,422 units completed in 17 developments
• 975 units under construction in 14 developments
• 1,625 units in the development pipeline across 15 upcoming projects

Lawson-Remer said the County’s housing strategy is focused on both increasing overall supply and expanding deeply affordable housing options.

“This is about whether teachers, healthcare workers, and young families can afford to stay in San Diego,” she said. “We’re proving that bold policy changes and targeted investments can accelerate housing production. Now we’re building the affordable homes our communities urgently need.”