The Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) is a new initiative established by the governor’s housing production package, also known as
Senate Bill 1537.
What We Do
Ensure Compliance with State Housing Laws
We work with local governments and housing developers to navigate complex state housing laws related to land use and permitting. Our services include providing funding to local governments, guidance, and technical support to minimize barriers to housing production and ensure compliance with state laws and regulations.
Navigate State Resources and Processes
HAPO partners with various state agencies involved in housing development to identify technical and financial resources that can overcome challenges and unlock opportunities for housing production.
Improve Housing Production Through Research and Guidance
The legislature directed HAPO to create reports, guidance documents, and materials to support housing production, including:
- Model codes outlining best practices for regulating local housing development.
- The Permit-Ready Plans Program designed to streamline local permit review and approval processes.
- Research to identify barriers and opportunities within current land use policies and state agency plans.
Our goal is to pave the way for innovative solutions that enhance housing affordability and accessibility for all Oregonians.
HAPO will recommend ways to accelerate and improve the efficiency of the housing development process, and reduce or eliminate regulatory barriers to housing production. These reports will evaluate local processes including land use zoning and the review and approval of building plans, design, public works, and building permitting.
In addition to reviewing local processes, HAPO will evaluate state policies and programs to reduce barriers to housing and opportunities to maximize state resources in support of increased production. This evaluation will include policies, programs and funding related to land readiness and development, regulatory approvals, infrastructure availability, and affordable housing.
These reports, described in Senate Bill 1537, Section (5), will be presented to the Oregon Legislature by September 2026.
The HAPO Resource Hub is now available! This is a centralized website for housing developers and local governments. It features the HAPO intake form for inquiries and complaints, progress dashboards, and a centralized database of state housing programs.
Flexibilities for Housing Development and Design Standards
Senate Bill 1537 includes new flexibilities to local housing design and development standards. The bill requires local governments to grant adjustments — or deviations — from existing land use regulations to specific housing development and design standards for qualifying housing projects. Through HAPO, cities can apply to use their local process for accepting adjustments to housing development standards instead of the process required by Section 38 of Senate Bill 1537.
To support transparency and public engagement, HAPO created a public dashboard to show where housing developments are eligible for flexibility. It also shows cities that requested or received approval to use an established local process for accepting adjustments instead of the State process.
Oregon State-Owned or Managed Lands Inventory
Governor Tina Kotek directed state staff to provide information to the public about state owned or managed lands which may be suitable for housing development. The Department of Administrative Services designed an online tool called the
Oregon State-Owned or Managed Lands Inventory in coordination with the Governor’s Office to provide public access to detailed information about land owned or managed by state agencies. The tool was among the Governor’s
Housing Production Advisory Council’s recommendations, with a goal to connect interested housing developers with available land to build on.