Quick search by citation:

42 U.S. Code § 5302 - General provisions

(a) DefinitionsAs used in this chapter—
(1)
The term “unit of general local government” means any city, county, town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State; Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, or a general purpose political subdivision thereof; a combination of such political subdivisions that, except as provided in section 5306(d)(4) of this title, is recognized by the Secretary; and the District of Columbia. Such term also includes a State or a local public body or agency (as defined in section 4512 [1] of this title), community association, or other entity, which is approved by the Secretary for the purpose of providing public facilities or services to a new community as part of a program meeting the eligibility standards of section 4513[1] of this title or title IV of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 [42 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.].
(2)
The term “State” means any State of the United States, or any instrumentality thereof approved by the Governor; and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(3)
The term “metropolitan area” means a standard metropolitan statistical area as established by the Office of Management and Budget.
(4)
The term “metropolitan city” means (A) a city within a metropolitan area which is the central city of such area, as defined and used by the Office of Management and Budget, or (B) any other city, within a metropolitan area, which has a population of fifty thousand or more. Any city that was classified as a metropolitan city for at least 2 years pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph shall remain classified as a metropolitan city. Any unit of general local government that becomes eligible to be classified as a metropolitan city, and was not classified as a metropolitan city in the immediately preceding fiscal year, may, upon submission of written notification to the Secretary, defer its classification as a metropolitan city for all purposes under this chapter, if it elects to have its population included in an urban county under subsection (d). Notwithstanding the second sentence of this paragraph, a city may elect not to retain its classification as a metropolitan city. Any city classified as a metropolitan city pursuant to this paragraph, and that no longer qualifies as a metropolitan city in a fiscal year beginning after fiscal year 1989, shall retain its classification as a metropolitan city for such fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year, except that in such succeeding fiscal year (A) the amount of the grant to such city shall be 50 percent of the amount calculated under section 5306(b) of this title; and (B) the remaining 50 percent shall be added to the amount allocated under section 5306(d) of this title to the State in which the city is located and the city shall be eligible in such succeeding fiscal year to receive a distribution from the State allocation under section 5306(d) of this title as increased by this sentence. Any unit of general local government that was classified as a metropolitan city in any fiscal year, may, upon submission of written notification to the Secretary, relinquish such classification for all purposes under this chapter if it elects to have its population included with the population of a county for purposes of qualifying for assistance (for such following fiscal year) under section 5306 of this title as an urban county under paragraph (6)(D). Any metropolitan city that elects to relinquish its classification under the preceding sentence and whose port authority shipped at least 35,000,000 tons of cargo in 1988, of which iron ore made up at least half, shall not receive, in any fiscal year, a total amount of assistance under section 5306 of this title from the urban county recipient that is less than the city would have received if it had not relinquished the classification under the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, with respect to any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2007, the cities of Alton and Granite City, Illinois, shall be considered metropolitan cities for purposes of this chapter.
(5)
The term “city” means (A) any unit of general local government which is classified as a municipality by the United States Bureau of the Census or (B) any other unit of general local government which is a town or township and which, in the determination of the Secretary, (i) possesses powers and performs functions comparable to these associated with municipalities, (ii) is closely settled, and (iii) contains within its boundaries no incorporated places as defined by the United States Bureau of the Census which have not entered into cooperation agreements with such town or township to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities.
(6)
(A) The term “urban county” means any county within a metropolitan area which—
(i)
is authorized under State law to undertake essential community development and housing assistance activities in its unincorporated areas, if any, which are not units of general local government; and
(ii) either—
(I)
has a population of 200,000 or more (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) and has a combined population of 100,000 or more (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in such unincorporated areas and in its included units of general local government (and in the case of counties having a combined population of less than 200,000, the areas and units of general local government must include the areas and units of general local government which in the aggregate have the preponderance of the persons of low and moderate income who reside in the county) (a) in which it has authority to undertake essential community development and housing assistance activities and which do not elect to have their population excluded, or (b) with which it has entered into cooperation agreements to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities; or
(II)
has a population in excess of 100,000, a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile, and contains within its boundaries no incorporated places as defined by the United States Bureau of the Census.
(B)
Any county that was classified as an urban county for at least 2 years pursuant to subparagraph (A), (C), or (D) shall remain classified as an urban county, unless it fails to qualify as an urban county pursuant to subparagraph (A) by reason of the election of any unit of general local government included in such county to have its population excluded under clause (ii)(I)(a) of subparagraph (A) or not to renew a cooperation agreement under clause (ii)(I)(b) of such subparagraph.
(C) Notwithstanding the combined population amount set forth in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), a county shall also qualify as an urban county for purposes of assistance under section 5306 of this title if such county—
(i)
complies with all other requirements set forth in the first sentence;
(ii)
has, according to the most recent available decennial census data, a combined population between 190,000 and 199,999, inclusive (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in all its unincorporated areas that are not units of general local government and in all units of general local government located within such county;
(iii)
had a population growth rate of not less than 15 percent during the most recent 10-year period measured by applicable censuses; and
(iv)
has submitted data satisfactory to the Secretary that it has a combined population of not less than 200,000 (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in all its unincorporated areas that are not units of general local government and in all units of general local government located within such county.
(D) Such term also includes a county that—
(i)
has a combined population in excess of 175,000, has more than 50 percent of the housing units of the area unsewered, and has an aquifer that was designated before March 1, 1987, a sole source aquifer by the Environmental Protection Agency;
(ii)
has taken steps, which include at least one public referendum, to consolidate substantial public services with an adjoining metropolitan city, and in the opinion of the Secretary, has consolidated these services with the city in an effort that is expected to result in the unification of the two governments within 6 years of February 5, 1988;
(iii)
had a population between 180,000 and 200,000 on October 1, 1987, was eligible for assistance under section 5318 of this title in fiscal year 1986, and does not contain any metropolitan cities;
(iv)
has entered into a local cooperation agreement with a metropolitan city that received assistance under section 5306 of this title because of such classification, and has elected under paragraph (4) to have its population included with the population of the county for purposes of qualifying as an urban county; except that to qualify as an urban county under this clause (I) the county must have a combined population of not less than 195,000, (II) more than 15 percent of the residents of the county shall be 60 years of age or older (according to the most recent decennial census data), (III) not less than 20 percent of the total personal income in the county shall be from pensions, social security, disability, and other transfer programs, and (IV) not less than 40 percent of the land within the county shall be publicly owned and not subject to property tax levies;
(v)
(I)
has a population of 175,000 or more (including the population of metropolitan cities therein), (II) before January 1, 1975, was designated by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 608 of the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1975 (Public Law 93–552; 88 Stat. 1763), as a Trident Defense Impact Area, and (III) has located therein not less than 1 unit of general local government that was classified as a metropolitan city and (a) for which county each such unit of general local government therein has relinquished its classification as a metropolitan city under the 6th sentence of paragraph (4), or (b) that has entered into cooperative agreements with each metropolitan city therein to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities;
(vi) has entered into a local cooperation agreement with a metropolitan city that received assistance under section 5306 of this title because of such classification, and has elected under paragraph (4) to have its population included with the population of the county for the purposes of qualifying as an urban county, except that to qualify as an urban county under this clause, the county must—
(I)
have a combined population of not less than 210,000, excluding any metropolitan city located in the county that is not relinquishing its metropolitan city classification, according to the 1990 decennial census of the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce;
(II)
including any metropolitan cities located in the county, have had a decrease in population of 10,061 from 1992 to 1994, according to the estimates of the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce; and
(III)
have had a Federal naval installation that was more than 100 years old closed by action of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission appointed for 1993 under the Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, directly resulting in a loss of employment by more than 7,000 Federal Government civilian employees and more than 15,000 active duty military personnel, which naval installation was located within one mile of an enterprise community designated by the Secretary pursuant to section 1391 of title 26, which enterprise community has a population of not less than 20,000, according to the 1990 decennial census of the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce[2]
(vii)
(I)
has consolidated its government with one or more municipal governments, such that within the county boundaries there are no unincorporated areas; (II) has a population of not less than 650,000; (III) for more than 10 years, has been classified as a metropolitan city for purposes of allocating and distributing funds under section 5306 of this title; and (IV) as of October 27, 2000, has over 90 percent of the county’s population within the jurisdiction of the consolidated government; or
(viii)
notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any county that was classified as an urban county pursuant to subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 1999, at the option of the county, may hereafter remain classified as an urban county for purposes of this Act.
(E)
Any county classified as an urban county pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of this paragraph, and that no longer qualifies as an urban county under such subparagraph in a fiscal year beginning after fiscal year 1989, shall retain its classification as an urban county for such fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year, except that in such succeeding fiscal year (i) the amount of the grant to such an urban county shall be 50 percent of the amount calculated under section 5306(b) of this title; and (ii) the remaining 50 percent shall be added to the amount allocated under section 5306(d) of this title to the State in which the urban county is located and the urban county shall be eligible in such succeeding fiscal year to receive a distribution from the State allocation under section 5306(d) of this title as increased by this sentence.
(7)
The term “nonentitlement area” means an area which is not a metropolitan city or part of an urban county and does not include Indian tribes.
(8)
The term “population” means total resident population based on data compiled by the United States Bureau of the Census and referable to the same point or period in time.
(9)
The term “extent of poverty” means the number of persons whose incomes are below the poverty level. Poverty levels shall be determined by the Secretary pursuant to criteria provided by the Office of Management and Budget, taking into account and making adjustments, if feasible and appropriate and in the sole discretion of the Secretary, for regional or area variations in income and cost of living, and shall be based on data referable to the same point or period in time.
(10)
The term “extent of housing overcrowding” means the number of housing units with 1.01 or more persons per room based on data compiled by the United States Bureau of the Census and referable to the same point or period in time.
(11)
The term “age of housing” means the number of existing housing units constructed in 1939 or earlier based on data compiled by the United States Bureau of the Census and referable to the same point or period in time.
(12)
The term “extent of growth lag” means the number of persons who would have been residents in a metropolitan city or urban county, in excess of the current population of such metropolitan city or urban county, if such metropolitan city or urban county had had a population growth rate between 1960 and the date of the most recent population count referable to the same point or period in time equal to the population growth rate for such period of all metropolitan cities. Where the boundaries for a metropolitan city or urban county used for the 1980 census have changed as a result of annexation, the current population used to compute extent of growth lag shall be adjusted by multiplying the current population by the ratio of the population based on the 1980 census within the boundaries used for the 1980 census to the population based on the 1980 census within the current boundaries.
(13)
The term “housing stock” means the number of existing housing units based on data compiled by the United States Bureau of the Census and referable to the same point or period in time.
(14)
The term “adjustment factor” means the ratio between the age of housing in the metropolitan city or urban county and the predicted age of housing in such city or county.
(15)
The term “predicted age of housing” means the arithmetic product of the housing stock in the metropolitan city or urban county multiplied times the ratio between the age of housing in all metropolitan areas and the housing stock in all metropolitan areas.
(16)
The term “adjusted age of housing” means the arithmetic product of the age of housing in the metropolitan city or urban county multiplied times the adjustment factor.
(17)
The term “Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, group, and nation, including Alaska Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos, and any Alaskan Native Village, of the United States, which is considered an eligible recipient under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93–638) [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] or was considered an eligible recipient under chapter 67 of title 31 prior to the repeal of such chapter.
(18)
The term “Federal grant-in-aid program” means a program of Federal financial assistance other than loans and other than the assistance provided by this chapter.
(19)
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(20)
(A)
The terms “persons of low and moderate income” and “low- and moderate-income persons” mean families and individuals whose incomes do not exceed 80 percent of the median income of the area involved, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families. The term “persons of low income” means families and individuals whose incomes do not exceed 50 percent of the median income of the area involved, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families. The term “persons of moderate income” means families and individuals whose incomes exceed 50 percent, but do not exceed 80 percent, of the median income of the area involved, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families. For purposes of such terms, the area involved shall be determined in the same manner as such area is determined for purposes of assistance under section 1437f of this title.
(B)
The Secretary may establish percentages of median income for any area that are higher or lower than the percentages set forth in subparagraph (A), if the Secretary finds such variations to be necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes in such area.
(21)
The term “buildings for the general conduct of government” means city halls, county administrative buildings, State capitol or office buildings, or other facilities in which the legislative or general administrative affairs of the government are conducted. Such term does not include such facilities as neighborhood service centers or special purpose buildings located in low- and moderate-income areas that house various nonlegislative functions or services provided by government at decentralized locations.
(22)
The term “microenterprise” means a commercial enterprise that has 5 or fewer employees, 1 or more of whom owns the enterprise.
(23)
The term “small business” means a business that meets the criteria set forth in section 632(a) of title 15.
(24)
The term “insular area” means each of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
(b) Basis and modification of definitions

Where appropriate, the definitions in subsection (a) shall be based, with respect to any fiscal year, on the most recent data compiled by the United States Bureau of the Census and the latest published reports of the Office of Management and Budget available ninety days prior to the beginning of such fiscal year. The Secretary may by regulation change or otherwise modify the meaning of the terms defined in subsection (a) in order to reflect any technical change or modification thereof made subsequent to such date by the United States Bureau of the Census or the Office of Management and Budget.

(c) Designation of public agencies

One or more public agencies, including existing local public agencies, may be designated by the chief executive officer of a State or a unit of general local government to undertake activities assisted under this chapter.

(d) Local governments, inclusion in urban county population

With respect to program years beginning with the program year for which grants are made available from amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1982 under section 5303 of this title, the population of any unit of general local government which is included in that of an urban county as provided in subparagraph (A)(ii) or (D) of subsection (a)(6) shall be included in the population of such urban county for three program years beginning with the program year in which its population was first so included and shall not otherwise be eligible for a grant under section 5306 of this title as a separate entity, unless the urban county does not receive a grant for any year during such three-year period.

(e) Exclusion of local governments from urban county population; notification of election

Any county seeking qualification as an urban county, including any urban county seeking to continue such qualification, shall notify, as provided in this subsection, each unit of general local government, which is included therein and is eligible to elect to have its population excluded from that of an urban county under subsection (a)(6)(A)(ii)(I)(a), of its opportunity to make such an election. Such notification shall, at a time and in a manner prescribed by the Secretary, be provided so as to provide a reasonable period for response prior to the period for which such qualification is sought. The population of any unit of general local government which is provided such notification and which does not inform, at a time and in a manner prescribed by the Secretary, the county of its election to exclude its population from that of the county shall, if the county qualifies as an urban county, be included in the population of such urban county as provided in subsection (d).

(Pub. L. 93–383, title I, § 102, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 635; Pub. L. 95–128, title I, § 102, Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1111; Pub. L. 96–153, title I, § 103(f), Dec. 21, 1979, 93 Stat. 1102; Pub. L. 96–399, title I, §§ 101(a), (b)(1), (c), 111(a), Oct. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1614, 1620; Pub. L. 97–35, title III, §§ 309(a)–(c), 310, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 396, 397; Pub. L. 97–289, § 5, Oct. 6, 1982, 96 Stat. 1231; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title I, § 102], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1159; Pub. L. 98–479, title I, § 101(a)(1)–(4), title II, § 203(l)(1), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2218, 2219, 2231; Pub. L. 99–120, § 5(a), Oct. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 504; Pub. L. 99–156, § 5(a), Nov. 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 816; Pub. L. 99–219, § 5(a), Dec. 26, 1985, 99 Stat. 1731; Pub. L. 99–267, § 5(a), Mar. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 74; Pub. L. 99–272, title III, § 3011(a), title XIV, § 14001(b)(3), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 106, 328; Pub. L. 99–289, § 1(b), May 2, 1986, 100 Stat. 412; Pub. L. 99–345, § 1, June 24, 1986, 100 Stat. 673; Pub. L. 99–430, Sept. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 986; Pub. L. 100–77, title IV, § 442, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 509; Pub. L. 100–122, § 1, Sept. 30, 1987, 101 Stat. 793; Pub. L. 100–154, Nov. 5, 1987, 101 Stat. 890; Pub. L. 100–170, Nov. 17, 1987, 101 Stat. 914; Pub. L. 100–179, Dec. 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 1018; Pub. L. 100–200, Dec. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 1327; Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(f) [title I, § 101], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–187, 1329–193; Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 503, Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1923; Pub. L. 100–628, title X, §§ 1081, 1082(a), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3276, 3277; Pub. L. 101–235, title VII, § 702(a), Dec. 15, 1989, 103 Stat. 2056; Pub. L. 101–507, title II, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1370; Pub. L. 101–625, title IX, §§ 903(a)–(c)(2), 904(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4385–4387; Pub. L. 102–550, title VIII, §§ 802(a), 803, 807(c)(2), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3845, 3849; Pub. L. 104–204, title II, § 216, Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2904; Pub. L. 106–377, § 1(a)(1) [title II, § 217], Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1441, 1441A–28; Pub. L. 108–186, title V, § 501(a), (b), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2696; Pub. L. 110–161, div. K, title II, § 232, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2438.)


[1]  See References in Text note below.

[2]  So in original. Probably should be followed by a semicolon.
Editorial Notes
References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of Pub. L. 93–383, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 633, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.

Sections 4512 and 4513 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), were repealed by Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 474(e)], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1239.

The Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is Pub. L. 90–448, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 476. Title IV of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, which was classified principally to chapter 48 (§ 3901 et seq.) of this title, was repealed, with certain exceptions which were omitted from the Code, by Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 474(e)], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1239. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1968 Amendment note set out under section 1701 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and Tables.

Section 608 of the Military Construction Authorization Act, 1975, referred to in subsec. (a)(6)(D)(v)(II), is not classified to the Code.

The Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (a)(6)(D)(vi)(III), probably means the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, which is part A of title XXIX of div. B of Pub. L. 101–510, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1808, and which is set out as a note under section 2687 of Title 10, Armed Forces. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(6)(D)(viii), is Pub. L. 93–383, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 633, known as the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables.

The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(17), is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which is classified principally to chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of Title 25 and Tables.

Chapter 67 of title 31, referred to in subsec. (a)(17), was repealed by Pub. L. 99–272, title XIV, § 14001(a)(1), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 327.

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 110–161 inserted at end “Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, with respect to any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2007, the cities of Alton and Granite City, Illinois, shall be considered metropolitan cities for purposes of this chapter.”

2003—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–186, § 501(b), in first sentence, inserted “and” after “Secretary;” and struck out “; and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands” after “the District of Columbia”.

Subsec. (a)(24). Pub. L. 108–186, § 501(a), added par. (24).

2000—Subsec. (a)(6)(D)(vii), (viii). Pub. L. 106–377 added cls. (vii) and (viii).

1996—Subsec. (a)(6)(D)(vi). Pub. L. 104–204 added cl. (vi).

1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 802(a), substituted “that, except as provided in section 5306(d)(4) of this title, is recognized by the Secretary” for “recognized by the Secretary”.

Subsec. (a)(6)(D)(v). Pub. L. 102–550, § 803, added cl. (v).

Subsec. (a)(22), (23). Pub. L. 102–550, § 807(c)(2), added pars. (22) and (23).

1990—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 101–625, § 903(c)(1), inserted at end “Any unit of general local government that was classified as a metropolitan city in any fiscal year, may, upon submission of written notification to the Secretary, relinquish such classification for all purposes under this chapter if it elects to have its population included with the population of a county for purposes of qualifying for assistance (for such following fiscal year) under section 5306 of this title as an urban county under paragraph (6)(D). Any metropolitan city that elects to relinquish its classification under the preceding sentence and whose port authority shipped at least 35,000,000 tons of cargo in 1988, of which iron ore made up at least half, shall not receive, in any fiscal year, a total amount of assistance under section 5306 of this title from the urban county recipient that is less than the city would have received if it had not relinquished the classification under the preceding sentence.”

Pub. L. 101–625, § 903(a), substituted “Any city that was classified as a metropolitan city for at least 2 years pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph shall remain classified as a metropolitan city.” for “In order to permit an orderly transition of each city losing its classification as a metropolitan city by reason of a decrease in population or revisions in the designation of metropolitan areas or central cities, any city classified as or deemed by law to be a metropolitan city for purposes of assistance under any section of this chapter for fiscal year 1983 or any subsequent fiscal year shall retain such qualification for purposes of receiving such assistance through September 30, 1989.”, struck out “for fiscal year 1988 or 1989” before period at end of fourth sentence, and in last sentence struck out “the first or second sentence of” before “this paragraph” and “under such first or second sentence” after “qualifies as a metropolitan city”.

Subsec. (a)(6)(B). Pub. L. 101–625, § 903(b), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “In order to permit an orderly transition of each county losing its classification as an urban county by reason of a decrease in population, any county classified as or deemed to be an urban county under this paragraph for purposes of receiving assistance under any section of this chapter for fiscal year 1983 or subsequent years shall retain such qualification for purposes of receiving such assistance through September 30, 1989, or for such longer period covered by a cooperation agreement entered into during fiscal year 1984, except that the provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply with respect to any county losing its classification as an urban county by reason of the election of any unit of general local government included in such county to have its population excluded under clause (ii)(I)(a) of subparagraph (A) or to not renew a cooperation agreement under clause (ii)(I)(b) of such subparagraph.”

Subsec. (a)(6)(D)(iv). Pub. L. 101–625, § 903(c)(2), added cl. (iv).

Subsec. (a)(12). Pub. L. 101–507 and Pub. L. 101–625, § 904(a), amended par. (12) identically, inserting at end “Where the boundaries for a metropolitan city or urban county used for the 1980 census have changed as a result of annexation, the current population used to compute extent of growth lag shall be adjusted by multiplying the current population by the ratio of the population based on the 1980 census within the boundaries used for the 1980 census to the population based on the 1980 census within the current boundaries.”

1989—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 101–235 inserted before period at end “and does not include Indian tribes”.

1988—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 100–628, § 1081(a)(1), substituted “a decrease in population” for “the population data of the 1980 decennial census” and inserted “or any subsequent fiscal year” after “1983” in second sentence.

Pub. L. 100–628, § 1081(a)(2), directed that subsec. (a)(4) of this section as similarly amended first by Pub. L. 100–202 [see 1987 Amendment note below] and later by section 503(a)(2) of Pub. L. 100–242 [see below] is amended to read as if the amendment by Pub. L. 100–242 had not been enacted.

Pub. L. 100–242, § 503(a)(1), substituted “September 30, 1989” for “March 15, 1988”.

Pub. L. 100–242, § 503(a)(2), made amendment identical to amendment by Pub. L. 100–202. See 1987 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 100–242, § 503(a)(3), inserted at end “Any city classified as a metropolitan city pursuant to the first or second sentence of this paragraph, and that no longer qualifies as a metropolitan city under such first or second sentence in a fiscal year beginning after fiscal year 1989, shall retain its classification as a metropolitan city for such fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year, except that in such succeeding fiscal year (A) the amount of the grant to such city shall be 50 percent of the amount calculated under section 5306(b) of this title; and (B) the remaining 50 percent shall be added to the amount allocated under section 5306(d) of this title to the State in which the city is located and the city shall be eligible in such succeeding fiscal year to receive a distribution from the State allocation under section 5306(d) of this title as increased by this sentence.”

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 100–628, § 1081(b), substituted a semicolon for last comma in cls. (i) and (ii)(I) of subpar. (A).

Pub. L. 100–242, § 503(b), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: “The term ‘urban county’ means any county within a metropolitan area which (A) is authorized under State law to undertake essential community development and housing assistance activities in its unincorporated areas, if any, which are not units of general local government, and either (B) has a combined population of two hundred thousand or more (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in such unincorporated areas and in its included units of general local government (i) in which it has authority to undertake essential community development and housing assistance activities and which do not elect to have their population excluded or (ii) with which it has entered into cooperation agreements to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities or (C) has a population in excess of one hundred thousand, a population density of at least five thousand persons per square mile, and contains within its boundaries no incorporated places as defined by the United States Bureau of Census. In order to permit an orderly transition of each county losing its classification as an urban county by reason of a decrease in population, any county classified as or deemed to be an urban county under this paragraph for purposes of receiving assistance under any section of this chapter for fiscal year 1983 or 1984 shall retain such qualification for purposes of receiving such assistance through March 15, 1988, or for such longer period covered by a cooperation agreement entered into during fiscal year 1984, except that the provisions of this sentence shall not apply with respect to any county losing its classification as an urban county by reason of the election of any unit of general local government included in such county to have its population excluded under clause (B)(i) of the first sentence or to not renew a cooperation agreement under clause (B)(ii) of such sentence. Notwithstanding the combined population amount set forth in clause (B) of the first sentence, a county shall also qualify as an urban county for purposes of assistance under section 5306 of this title if such county (A) complies with all other requirements set forth in the first sentence; (B) has, according to the most recent available decennial census data, a combined population between 190,000 and 199,999, inclusive, (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in all its unincorporated areas that are not units of general local government and in all units of general local government located within such county; (C) had a population growth rate of not less than 15 percent during the most recent 10-year period measured by applicable censuses; and (D) has submitted data satisfactory to the Secretary that it has a combined population of not less than 200,000 (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in all its unincorporated areas that are not units of general local government and in all units of general local government located within such county.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–628, § 1082(a)(1), substituted “subparagraph (A)(ii) or (D) of subsection (a)(6)” for “subsection (a)(6)(B)”.

Pub. L. 100–242, § 503(c), struck out at end “During any such three-year period, the population of any unit of general local government which is not included in that of the urban county for the first year shall not be eligible for such inclusion in the second or third year, except where the unit of general local government loses the designation of metropolitan city.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–628, § 1082(a)(2), substituted “subsection (a)(6)(A)(ii)(I)(a)” for “subsection (a)(6)(B)(i)”.

1987—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 100–202 inserted third sentence and struck out former third sentence which read as follows: “Any unit of general local government that becomes eligible to be classified as a metropolitan city for fiscal year 1984 or 1985 may, upon submission of written notification to the Secretary, defer its classification as a metropolitan city for all purposes under this chapter for fiscal years 1984, 1985, and 1986 if such unit of general local government elects to have its population included in an urban county under subsection (d) of this section.”

Pub. L. 100–200 substituted “March 15, 1988” for “December 16, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–179 substituted “December 16, 1987” for “December 2, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–170 substituted “December 2, 1987” for “November 15, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–154 substituted “November 15, 1987” for “October 31, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–122 substituted “October 31, 1987” for “September 30, 1987”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 100–200 substituted “March 15, 1988” for “December 16, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–179 substituted “December 16, 1987” for “December 2, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–170 substituted “December 2, 1987” for “November 15, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–154 substituted “November 15, 1987” for “October 31, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–122 substituted “October 31, 1987” for “September 30, 1987”.

Pub. L. 100–77 inserted “or 1984”.

1986—Subsec. (a)(4), (6). Pub. L. 99–430 substituted “September 30, 1987” for “September 30, 1986”.

Pub. L. 99–345 substituted “September 30, 1986” for “June 6, 1986”.

Pub. L. 99–289 substituted “June 6, 1986” for “April 30, 1986”.

Pub. L. 99–272, § 3011(a), directed amendment of pars. (4) and (6) identical to Pub. L. 99–216 substituting “March 17, 1986” for “December 15, 1985”.

Pub. L. 99–267 substituted “April 30, 1986” for “March 17, 1986”.

Subsec. (a)(17). Pub. L. 99–272, § 14001(b)(3), substituted “or was considered an eligible recipient under chapter 67 of title 31 prior to the repeal of such chapter” for “or under chapter 67 of title 31”.

1985—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 99–219, § 5(a)(1), substituted “March 17, 1986” for “December 15, 1985”.

Pub. L. 99–156, § 5(a)(1), substituted “December 15, 1985” for “November 14, 1985”.

Pub. L. 99–120, § 5(a)(1), substituted “through November 14, 1985” for “for fiscal years 1984 and 1985”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 99–219, § 5(a)(2), substituted “March 17, 1986” for “December 15, 1985”.

Pub. L. 99–156, § 5(a)(2), substituted “December 15, 1985” for “November 14, 1985”.

Pub. L. 99–120, § 5(a)(2), substituted “through November 14, 1985” for “for fiscal years 1984 and 1985”.

1984—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 98–479, § 101(a)(1), in last sentence, struck out “while its population is included in an urban county for such fiscal year” after “fiscal year 1984 or 1985”, and substituted “elects” for “continues” and “an” for “such” before “urban county”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 98–479, § 101(a)(2), inserted “, except that the provisions of this sentence shall not apply with respect to any county losing its classification as an urban county by reason of the election of any unit of general local government included in such county to have its population excluded under clause (B)(i) of the first sentence or to not renew a cooperation agreement under clause (B)(ii) of such sentence” at end of second sentence, “, (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in all its unincorporated areas that are not units of general local government and in all units of general local government located within such county” at end of cl. (B) in last sentence, and “(excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in all its unincorporated areas that are not units of general local government and in all units of general local government located within such county” at end of cl. (D) in last sentence.

Subsec. (a)(17). Pub. L. 98–479, § 203(l)(1), substituted “chapter 67 of title 31” for “the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 (Public Law 92–512)”.

Subsec. (a)(20). Pub. L. 98–479, § 101(a)(3), in amending par. (20) generally, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and substituted “mean families and individuals whose incomes do not exceed 80 percent of the median income of the area involved, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families” for “have the meaning given the term ‘lower income families’ in section 1437a(b)(2) of this title”, substituted “whose incomes do not exceed 50 percent of the median income of the area involved, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families” for “has the meaning given the term ‘very low-income families’ in such section”, inserted “The term ‘persons of moderate income’ means families and individuals whose incomes exceed 50 percent, but do not exceed 80 percent, of the median income of the area involved, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families”, and added subpar. (B).

Subsec. (a)(21). Pub. L. 98–479, § 101(a)(4), substituted “capitol” for “capital”, and added a comma after “or office buildings”.

1983—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(d), substituted “Office of Management and Budget” for “Department of Commerce”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(d), substituted “Office of Management and Budget” for “Department of Commerce”.

Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(a), substituted provision authorizing retention of classification as metropolitan cities through fiscal year 1985 of any cities classified as deemed to be such for purposes of assistance for fiscal year 1983 for provision that any city which had been classified as a metropolitan city under this paragraph because the population of such city exceeded fifty thousand would be so classified until the decennial census indicated that the population of such city was less than fifty thousand or until September 30, 1983, whichever was later, and inserted provision permitting any units of general local government which become eligible to be classified as metropolitan cities for fiscal years 1984 and 1985 while their population is included in an urban county for such fiscal year to defer such classification through fiscal year 1986 if such unit of general local government continues to have its population included in such urban county under subsec. (d) of this section.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(b), substituted provision permitting retention of classification as urban counties through fiscal year 1985 of any counties classified or deemed to be such for purposes of assistance under this chapter for fiscal year 1983, and allowing a county to qualify as an urban county upon meeting certain conditions despite failing to meet the requirements of cl. (B) of the first sentence for provision that any urban county qualifying as such in fiscal year 1981 which did not meet the population requirements of cl. (B) of the first sentence would be considered to meet such requirements through Sept. 30, 1983, and would not be subject to subsec. (d) of this section through such date.

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(d), substituted “Office of Management and Budget” for “Department of Commerce”.

Subsec. (a)(20), (21). Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(c), added pars. (20) and (21).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(d), substituted “Office of Management and Budget” for “Department of Commerce” in two places.

Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(e), struck out provisions that no data from the 1980 Decennial Census, except those relating to population and poverty, would be taken into account for purposes of sections 5306 and 5318 of this title and that no revision to the criteria for establishing a metropolitan area or defining a central city of such an area published after January 1, 1983, would be taken into account for purposes of this chapter, except that any area or city which would newly qualify as a metropolitan area or central city of such an area by reason of such revision would be so qualified.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–181, § 102(f), inserted exception where the unit of general local government loses the designation of metropolitan city.

1982—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 97–289, § 5(1), (2), substituted “under this paragraph because the population of such city exceeded fifty thousand shall” for “under clause (B) of this paragraph shall continue to”, and substituted “1983” for “1982”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 97–289, § 5(3)(A)–(C), substituted “before October 1, 1983,” for “for fiscal year 1982” after “population of which”, “through September 30, 1983,” for “for fiscal year 1982” after “requirements of such clause”, and “through such date” for “that fiscal year”.

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–35, §§ 309(a), 310, in par. (4) inserted applicability of Sept. 30, 1982, date to provisions, in par. (6) inserted provisions relating to urban county qualifying in fiscal year 1981, added par. (7), struck out pars. (18) and (19), which defined “program period” and “Community Development Program”, respectively, and redesignated former pars. (7) to (17) and (20) as (8) to (18) and (19), respectively.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–35, § 309(b), substituted “activities assisted under this chapter” for “a Community Development Program in whole or in part”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–35, § 309(c), substituted provisions relating to nonreceipt of a grant, for provisions relating to disapproval or withdrawal of an application, and struck out “(a)(1)” after “5303”.

1980—Subsec. (a)(3), (4), (8). Pub. L. 96–399, § 111(a), substituted “Department of Commerce” for “Office of Management and Budget” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–399, §§ 101(a), 111(a), inserted provisions relating to prohibition of use, in fiscal years 1981 to 1983, of data from the 1980 Decennial Census, except those relating to population and poverty, for purposes of section 5318 and 5306, and prohibition on revision to criteria for establishment of a metropolitan area or definition of a central city, except for those newly qualifying, and substituted “Department of Commerce” for “Office of Management and Budget”, wherever appearing.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–399, § 101(b)(1), substituted provisions relating to inclusion of the population of any unit of general local government in the population of such urban county for three program years, such unit to be ineligible for a grant under section 5306 as a separate entity, and prohibiting eligibility for second and third years if not included for the first year, for provisions relating to notification of units of general local government of their opportunity to exclude their populations from such urban county, and inclusion in such urban county unless exclusion is elected by notification.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 96–399, § 101(c), added subsec. (e).

1979—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 96–153, inserted reference to Northern Mariana Islands in definition of unit of general local government.

1977—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 95–128, § 102(a)(1), excluded from term “unit of general local government” Indian tribes, bands, groups, and nations, including Alaska Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos of the United States.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 95–128, § 102(a)(2), clarified term “metropolitan city” to continue the classification of any city classified as a metropolitan city under cl. (B) as such city until the decennial census indicates the population of such city is less than fifty thousand.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 95–128, § 102(a)(3), limited the meaning of “city” to a town or township without any incorporated places within its boundaries which have entered into cooperation agreements with such town or township to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 95–128, § 102(a)(4), inserted “either” before “(B)” and added cl. (C).

Subsec. (a)(10) to (20). Pub. L. 95–128, § 102(a)(5), (6), added pars. (10) to (16) and redesignated former pars. (10) to (13) as (17) to (20).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–128, § 102(b), added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1990 Amendments

Pub. L. 101–625, title IX, § 903(c)(3), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4386, provided that:

“The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section] shall apply with respect to assistance under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 [this chapter] for fiscal year 1991 and any fiscal year thereafter.”

Pub. L. 101–625, title IX, § 904(b), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4387, provided that:

“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to the first allocation of assistance under section 106 [section 5306 of this title] that is made after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 28, 1990] and to each allocation thereafter.”

Pub. L. 101–507, title II, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1370, provided in part that:

“The amendment made by this paragraph [amending this section] shall apply to the first allocation of assistance under section 106 [section 5306 of this title] that is made after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 5, 1990] and to each allocation thereafter.”
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–235 applicable to amounts approved in any appropriation Act under section 5303 of this title for fiscal year 1990 and each fiscal year thereafter, see section 702(e) of Pub. L. 101–235, as amended, set out as a note under section 5306 of this title.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by section 14001(b)(3) of Pub. L. 99–272 effective Oct. 18, 1986, see section 14001(e) of Pub. L. 99–272.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–181 applicable only to funds available for fiscal year 1984 and thereafter, see section 110(b) of Pub. L. 98–181, as amended, set out as a note under section 5316 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 371 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3701 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–399, title I, § 101(b)(2), Oct. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 1614, provided that:

“The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1981.”
Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–128 effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 114 of Pub. L. 95–128, set out as a note under section 5301 of this title.

Regulations

Pub. L. 108–186, title V, § 501(g), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2698, provided that:

“The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue regulations to carry out the amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 5304, 5306, and 5307 of this title], which shall take effect not later than the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2003].”