California has designated San Francisco a pro-housing city exactly one year after the state housing agency released a scathing report rebuking the city for having the state's slowest project approval process.

More than 30 jurisdictions in the state have received the coveted designation, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland and Riverside. Cities and counties with the pro-housing designation receive an advantage in state housing and planning grant programs.

In bestowing the pro-housing label on San Francisco, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) said the city has made "significant progress in accelerating housing development and removing obstacles that delay approval," the San Francisco Chronicle reported.