Ferndale Zoning Code § 7.31 Supportive Housing Developments

• 7.31.1 Purpose.

This Section provides for the regulation of supportive housing developments as required by Sections 65650 through 65656 of the California Government Code, as amended. Section 65651 prescribes that qualifying supportive housing developments shall be a by right use in zones where multifamily and mixed uses are permitted, including nonresidential zones permitting multifamily uses when specific requirements are met. Government Code Sections 65651 through 65656 establish specific requirements for the regulation of supportive housing developments. This Section is intended to comply with the standards in Sections 65650 through 65656 of the California Government Code to the greatest extent feasible.

• 7.31.2 Applicability.

The provisions of this Section apply to all lots in zones that permit multifamily and mixed uses, including nonresidential zones that permit multifamily uses, that is the Residential Two-Family (or R2), Residential Multiple-Family (or R3), Neighborhood Commercial (or C1), and Community Commercial (or C2) zones. Supportive Housing Developments shall comply with objective development standards and policies that apply to other multifamily development within the same zone.

• 7.31.3 General Provisions.

  • A supportive housing development developed pursuant to Government Code Section 65650 et seq., consisting of fifty (50) units or less, that meets all of the following requirements and is permitted in the Residential Two-Family (or R2), Residential Multiple-Family (or R3), Neighborhood Commercial (or C1), and Community Commercial (or C2) zones, provided:

    • a. Units within the development are subject to a recorded affordability restriction for fifty- five (55) years.

    • b. Affordability. One hundred percent (100%) of the units, excluding managers’ units, within the development must be restricted to lower income households and are or will be receiving public funding to ensure affordability of the housing to lower income Californians. Lower income households has the same meaning as defined in Section 50079.5 of the California Health and Safety Code. The rents in the development shall be set at an amount consistent with the rent limits stipulated by the public program providing financing for the development.

    • c. Supportive Housing Units. At least 25 percent (25%) of the units in the development or 12 units, whichever is greater, are restricted to residents in supportive housing who meet criteria of the target population as defined in subparagraph (d) of Government Code Section 65650. In developments with fewer than 12 units, one hundred percent (100%) of those units, excluding managers’ units, must be restricted to residents in supportive housing.

    • d. Services Plan. The applicant shall submit a plan for providing supportive services, with documentation demonstrating that supportive services will be provided onsite to residents in the project as required by Section 65651, and describing those services, which must include all of the following:

      • i. The name of the proposed entity or entities that will provide supportive services.

• ii. The proposed funding source or sources for the provided onsite supportive services.

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• iii. Proposed staffing levels.

• e. Replacement Dwelling Units. The supportive housing development shall replace rental dwelling units in the manner provided in Section 65915 of the California Government Code.

• f. Facilities. Units within the development, excluding managers’ units, include at least one bathroom and a kitchen or other cooking facilities, including, at minimum, a stovetop, a sink, and a refrigerator.

• g. Supportive Services Floor Area. For a development with twenty (20) or fewer total units, at least ninety (90) square feet shall be provided for onsite supportive services. For a development with more than 21 units, at least three percent (3%) of the total nonresidential floor area must be provided for onsite supportive services that are limited to tenant use, including, but not limited to, community rooms, case management offices, computer rooms, and community kitchens.

• h. Parking. A supportive housing development that is located within one-half mile walking distance of a public transit stop shall not require parking for units within the supportive housing development that are designated for supportive housing residents.

• i. Any other requirements of Government Code section 65650 et seq. regarding supportive housing, as may be amended.

• 7.31.4 Review Procedures.

  • a. The City shall approve a supportive housing development that complies with the applicable requirements of this Section.

  • b. The City shall only require the supportive housing development to comply with the objective development standards and policies that apply to other multifamily development within the same zone.

  • c. The City shall notify the developer whether the application is complete within 30 days of receipt of an application to develop supportive housing in accordance with this Section. The City shall complete its review of the application within 60 days after the application is complete for a project with 50 or fewer units, or within 120 days after the application is complete for a project with more than 50 units.

  • d. The City’s review of a supportive housing development to determine whether the development complies with objective development standards, including objective design review standards, pursuant to this Section shall be conducted consistent with the requirements of subdivision (f) of Section 65589.5 of the California Government Code, and shall not constitute a “project” for purposes of Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.

  • e. Any discretion exercised by the City in determining whether a project qualifies as a use by right pursuant to this Section or discretion otherwise exercised pursuant to this section does not affect that City's determination that a supportive housing development qualifies as a use by right pursuant to this Section. (End sections amended by Ord. 2025-06 on 11/19/2025)

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