Business Friendly Hayward Project

A couple standing in front of a newly opened business with an open sign

Project Summary/Background

The Business Friendly Hayward Plan is a strategic initiative designed to make it easier for businesses to locate and thrive in the City's commercial and mixed-use areas, while also working to revitalize vacant and underused properties. The project aims to create a supportive environment for local businesses, attract new investment, and strengthen the local economy. The project is a part of Hayward's Strategic Roadmap, a vision for the future of Hayward.

Project Objectives

  • Streamline entitlement and permitting processes for desirable businesses across the City’s commercial and mixed-use zoning districts
  • Activate vacant and underutilized properties and storefronts Downtown
  • Promote downtown and commercial corridors as destinations for businesses and the community
  • Growing and retaining small/midsized businesses

Opportunities for input

Come and find us at Hayward Street Parties!

Pop-Up Events (Hayward Street Parties)

Meetings

Survey Results

Thank you for taking our survey!

Over the course of July, we collected almost 300 responses from community members and business owners.

  • The survey reached 239 community members across 22 Bay Area ZIP codes.
  • The survey reached 51 businesses throughout Hayward’s various districts.

Community Survey Results Business Survey Results

 

Tentative Timeline

Timeframe

Products

Outreach

Spring/Summer 2025
Analysis of Hayward Codes & Practices
Summary of Best Practices
Chamber of Commerce
Stakeholder Interviews
Summer 2025
Commercial Analysis
Pop Ups
Social Media Outreach
Fall 2025
Draft Regulations
 
Winter 2025/2026
Final Code Updates
 

Project Contact

If you have any general comments about the Business Friendly Hayward plan, or to provide input, please contact: Elizabeth Blanton or Sachiko Riddle

Project Documents

Related Projects

Safe Streets Downtown

 Downtown Hayward Commercial Assessment (Task 5)