---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19504"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19504"
heading: "Grants for planning and implementation associated with affordable housing"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19504"
units:
  - "Chapter 165 — Increasing Housing Supply"
  - "Subchapter I — Building More in America"
---

# §19504. Grants for planning and implementation associated with affordable housing

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means—
    - (A) a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), [insular area](/usc/42/5204.md?p=1), metropolitan city, or urban county, as those terms are defined in [section 5302 of this title](/usc/42/5302.md); or
    - (B) a regional planning [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or consortia of regional planning [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Housing plan—** The term “housing plan” means a plan to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an eligible entity—
    - (A) increase the amount of available housing to meet the demand for such housing and any projected increase in the demand for such housing;
    - (B) increase the affordability of housing;
    - (C) increase the accessibility of housing for people with disabilities, including location-efficient housing;
    - (D) preserve or improve the quality of housing;
    - (E) reduce barriers to housing development; and
    - (F) coordinate with transportation-related [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).
  - (3) **Housing strategy—** The term “housing strategy” means a housing strategy required under [section 12705 of this title](/usc/42/12705.md).
  - (4) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)” means the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development.
- (b) **Establishment—** Not later than 1 year after July 11, 2026, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to assist planning and implementation activities associated with affordable housing, except that such grant awards may not be used for [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7), alteration, or repair work.
- (c) **Use of amounts—**
  - (1) **By regional planning agencies—** If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this section is an eligible entity described in [subsection (a)(1)(B)](#a-1-B), the eligible entity shall use those amounts to assist planning activities with respect to affordable housing, including—
    - (A) the development of housing plans;
    - (B) the substantial improvement of [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) or local housing strategies;
    - (C) the development of new regulatory requirements and processes;
    - (D) updating zoning codes;
    - (E) increasing the capacity to conduct housing inspections;
    - (F) increasing the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability;
    - (G) the development of local or regional plans for community development; and
    - (H) the substantial improvement of community development strategies, including strategies designed to—
      - (i) increase the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing;
      - (ii) increase access to public transportation; and
      - (iii) advance sustainable or location-efficient community development goals.
  - (2) **By States, insular areas, metropolitan cities, and urban counties—** If an eligible entity that receives amounts under this section is an eligible entity described in [subsection (a)(1)(A)](#a-1-A), the eligible entity shall use those amounts to—
    - (A) implement and administer housing strategies and housing plans;
    - (B) implement and administer any plans to increase housing choice, address disparities in housing needs, and provide greater access to opportunity;
    - (C) fund any community investments that support goals identified in a housing strategy or housing plan;
    - (D) implement and administer regulatory requirements and processes with respect to reformed zoning codes;
    - (E) increase the capacity to conduct housing inspections;
    - (F) increase the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability;
    - (G) implement and administer local or regional plans for community development; and
    - (H) fund any planning to increase—
      - (i) the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing;
      - (ii) access to public transportation; and
      - (iii) any location-efficient community development goals.
  - (3) **Use for administrative costs—** A eligible entity that receives amounts under this section may not use more than 10 percent of those amounts for administrative costs.
- (d) **Coordination—** To the extent practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall coordinate with the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Federal Transit Administration in carrying out this section.
- (e) **Expiration of authority—** After the expiration of the 5-year period beginning on July 11, 2026, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may not newly establish a program as described in this section.
- (f) **Sunset—** The program established under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after July 11, 2026.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 119–101, title II, § 207, July 11, 2026, 140 Stat. 873.)