By working with property owners who are interested in future development, the City has been able to refine its approach in a way that meets State housing requirements while also reducing the amount of land that would need to be rezoned. This new approach helps Shafter plan for housing in a way that better aligns with local needs and priorities.

Targeted General Plan revisions to the Housing Element and land use plan as well as zoning changes on 12 parcels in central Shafter to create capacity for multifamily housing and compatible commercial uses. The sites are vacant or used for agriculture and are already planned for urban development.

The Housing Element is the part of Shafter’s General Plan that addresses current and future housing needs. The City adopted and received State certification for its 2023–2031 Housing Element. Completing the rezoning keeps the City in compliance.

No. The City adopted a Housing Element in 2024 that identifies programs to create enough zoning capacity for future housing consistent with State housing law.

Shafter has enough land zoned for single-family homes, but State law requires the City to expand multifamily zoning by March 2027. Townhomes, duplexes, and apartments tend to be more affordable for individuals early in their careers and young families looking to stay in or move to Shafter. They can also benefit older adults seeking smaller, more affordable, and lower-maintenance homes that allow them to remain in the community as their housing needs change.

The proposed changes apply to 12 parcels around central Shafter. These properties are currently vacant or used for agriculture, are already planned for urban development in the General Plan, and have owners interested in future development. Together, the changes would create the zoning capacity required by state law, while also allowing for compatible market-rate housing and commercial uses as part of future development.

If approved, these properties could support an additional 1,800 housing units and 1.6 million square feet of commercial use, while reducing potential industrial by about 3.1 million square feet compared to what is allowed today.

The proposed sites were selected based on community input, prior planning work, and coordination with property owners. Recommendations from the General Plan Advisory Committee helped identify areas that could support future housing, and input from the Environmental Justice Working Group was considered as part of the broader land use planning process. The City then worked directly with interested property owners to confirm which sites were appropriate and suitable for rezoning.

Affordable housing is rented or sold at rates that can be afforded by households earning less than 80 percent of the County median income. For Shafter, this means households earning less than $78K (low income), who can afford a maximum of roughly $2K in monthly rent or $250K for a mortgage. For households earning less than $49K (very low income), they can afford a maximum of roughly $1.2K in monthly rent.

As of August 2026, Shafter’s housing market remains out of reach for most lower-income households: the median single-family home sales price is approximately $450K and most rental listings are single-family homes averaging about $2.5K per month. Although some multifamily housing is available at comparatively lower rents of about $1.2K per month, these options are limited.

No. The City’s role is to establish policies and zoning that make affordable housing more feasible by allowing the densities and housing types that lower development costs. However, rezoning does not require affordable housing (or any housing) to be built; property owners and developers ultimately decide whether, when, and how to pursue development.

By allowing more homes, such as townhomes, duplexes, and apartments, to be built on the same property, the costs of land, construction, utilities, parking, and other improvements are shared. This lowers the overall cost of development and enables each home to be offered at lower prices or rents compared to a typical single-family home.

Missing the March 2027 rezoning deadline could have serious consequences. Shafter could lose access to certain State funding, become subject to State enforcement or legal challenges, and have less local control over some housing projects, including through the State’s “Builder’s Remedy” provisions. Staying on schedule helps the City maintain compliance and retain local decision-making authority.

Visit the City’s website: www.myinput.com/planshafter, to learn more, including draft updates to maps, zoning, and housing programs.

The City wants to hear from you about the draft updates before submitting them to HCD for official review. The draft updates will be released for public review by the end of September. Please submit your comments or questions by email at myinput@planshafter.com and/or by attending either of the public meetings taking place in October.

September 30: Revised Housing Element and Zoning released for public review
October 6: Joint Planning Commission/City Council information session (5PM)
October 8: Community Open House at the Police Station Conference Room (6PM)
October 14: Public review period closes
Early 2027: Adoption hearings