Division 10 — SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY.

SEC. 16-441. INTENT AND PURPOSE.

Single-room occupancy (SRO) units can provide a valuable form of affordable private housing for individuals and can serve as an entry point into the housing market for extremely low-income populations, including formerly homeless persons seniors and those with disabilities. The purpose of this section is to establish development and operational standards for single-room occupancy units.

(Ord. No. 3037)

SEC. 16-441.1 APPLICABILITY.

The standards contained in this section shall apply to all SRO units where allowed by the zoning classification for a property. Development that is made up of all SRO units with exception of a manager's unit, is not subject to the attached dwelling unit development standards in Section 16-361 of this chapter but shall be subject to the attached dwelling unit design standards in Section 16-362.

(Ord. No. 3037)

SEC. 16-441.2 DEFINITIONS.

(A) AFFORDABLE RENT - The definition set forth in Cal. Health and Safety Code, Section 50053(b) inclusive of reasonable utility allowance, as defined in Cal. Health and Safety Code 50053(b)(3) for lower income households whose household income is not greater than 80% of the Ventura County Area Median Income (AMI) adjusted for family size as defined in Cal. Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5 and revised annually.

(B) LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS - Includes acutely low-income households, extremely lower income households, very low-income households and low-income households whose gross incomes are 80% or less of the area median income for the Ventura County Metropolitan Statistical Area, adjusted for family size and revised annually, pursuant to Cal. Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5 and 50105, as may be amended.

(C) SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY (SRO) - A residential facility containing six or more housing units where each housing unit is made up of a single room that may

have individual or shared kitchen and/or bathroom facilities and are often furnished. Each housing unit is offered on a monthly rental basis or longer.

(Ord. No. 3037)

SEC. 16-441.3 DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION STANDARDS.

(A) Occupancy. An SRO unit shall be occupied by not more than two people. Occupancy of single-room occupancy units may be restricted to seniors or be available to persons of all ages.

(B) Tenancy. Tenancy of SRO units shall be offered for a minimum of 30 days or longer.

(C) On-site management. An SRO facility with 16 or more units shall have an onsite manager. An SRO facility with less than 16 units shall provide a management office either on-site or off-site. The manager shall be accessible to residents law enforcement personnel, and any other individuals who need to establish communication upon or about the premises. The manager also shall have the authority to exercise control over the premises to ensure that the use of the premises does not result in littering, nuisance activities, noise, or other activities that adversely impact surrounding properties. Cleaning services shall be provided for common areas, common bathrooms, community kitchen, laundry facilities, and common hallways.

(D) Management plan. A management plan shall be submitted with the required special use permit application for an SRO facility and shall be approved by the Planning Commission, or City Council upon appeal. The management plan must address management and operation of the facility rental procedures, safety and security of residents and building maintenance.

(E) Minimum size. An SRO unit shall be at least 150 square feet in floor area, excluding closet and restroom areas. No individual unit may exceed 400 square feet, except for the manager's unit(s).

(F) Density. SRO residential density shall be subject to the density standards permitted in the underlying zone.

(G) Entrances. All single-room occupancy units shall be independently accessible from a single main entry, excluding emergency and other service support exits.

(H) Cooking facilities. Cooking facilities shall be provided either in individual units or in a community kitchen. Where cooking is in individual single-room occupancy units, each unit shall have a sink with hot and cold water, a counter with dedicated electrical outlets and a microwave oven or properly engineered cook top unit pursuant to Building Code requirements, and a refrigerator.

(I) Restroom facilities. An SRO unit may contain partial or full restroom facilities. A partial restroom facility shall have at least a toilet and sink. A full restroom facility shall have a toilet, sink, and bathtub, shower, or bathtub/shower combination. If a full bathroom facility is not provided in each SRO unit, common bathroom facilities shall be provided in accordance with the California Building Code for congregate residences with at least one full bathroom per floor and one full bathroom per four units.

(J) Closet. Each SRO unit shall have a separate enclosed all-weather closet. The closet shall be at least 120 cubic feet with a minimum four-foot horizontal dimension along one plane.

(K) Common interior area. Four square feet of usable common interior space per housing unit shall be provided, excluding janitorial storage, laundry facilities, common hallways and storage (including bicycle storage). At least 200 square feet of common interior space shall be provided as a ground floor entry area that provides a central focus for tenant social interaction and meetings.

(L) Laundry facilities. When laundry facilities are not provided within the units, laundry facilities shall be provided in a separate room at the ratio of one washer and one dryer for every ten units with at least one washer and one dryer per floor.

(M) Parking. Except for projects that allow only senior citizens as defined in Cal. Civil Code, Section 51.3. Off-street parking shall be provided pursuant to the SRO parking requirement identified under Section 16-622 of this chapter.

(N) Affordability. All housing units shall be rented at an affordable rent to very low-income households, except for a manager's unit.

(O) Existing structures. An existing structure may be converted to an SRO facility, consistent with the provisions of this section and California Building Code for congregate residences.

(Ord. No. 3037)