Part 11 — SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING

• Editor’s Note: Prior ordinance history: This Part 11 was originally derived from Ord. 93-21 § 11. This part was amended in its entirety, but specifically not repealed, by Ord. 2002-02.

24-175

(Supp. No. xx – 3/28/2024)

24.12.1000

The purpose of these regulations is to allow the development of reduced-size dwelling units, defined as single-room occupancy (SRO) units, with limited parking requirements to provide additional options for affordable housing opportunities.

(Ord. 2002-02 § 2 (part), 2002).

The net area of a SRO unit may range from a minimum of one hundred fifty square feet to a maximum of four hundred square feet, with the average unit size being no greater than three hundred forty-five square feet. (Ord. 2002-02 § 2 (part), 2002).

1. SRO Units of 220 square feet or more are required to have a kitchen and a full bathroom.

2. Any area that may be used for food preparation must be defined in building plans and meet the requirements of the State of California Health and Safety Code.

3. A full bathroom shall contain at least a toilet, sink and bathtub, shower or bath/shower combination.

4. A partial (or half) bathroom shall have at least a toilet and sink.

5. All SRO units must have a closet. (Ord. 2002-02 § 2 (part), 2002).

1. SRO projects shall have at least ten square feet of common usable open space per unit; however, no SRO project shall provide less than two hundred square feet of common outdoor open space and two hundred square feet of common indoor open space. Maintenance areas, laundry facilities, storage (including bicycle storage), and common hallways shall not be included as usable indoor common space. Landscape areas that are less than eight feet wide shall not be included as outdoor common space.

2. Common open spaces shall be designed to accommodate appropriate furnishings and shall be furnished for use by residents. Appropriate furnishings for indoor spaces may include such items as lounge chair(s) and/or couch(es), table(s) with chairs, writing desk(s), and television(s). Outdoor furnishings may include such items as outdoor bench(es), table(s) with chairs, barbecue(s), and shade umbrella(s).

3. Laundry facilities that have a minimum of two washers and two dryers must be provided in a separate room. Additional washers and dryers must be provided for any development that has more than twenty units at the ratio of one washer and one dryer for every additional twenty units.

4. Common bathrooms must be located on any floor with units that do not have full bathrooms. Common bathrooms shall be either single-occupant use with provisions for privacy or multi-occupant use with separate provisions for men and women. Common bathrooms shall have shower or bathtub facilities at a ratio of one for every seven units or fraction thereof. Each shared shower or bathtub facility shall be provided with an interior lockable door.

5. Complete common cooking facilities/ kitchens must be provided if any unit within the project does not have a kitchen. One complete cooking facility/kitchen shall be provided within the project for every twenty units or portion thereof or have one kitchen on any floor where units without kitchens are located.

6. All SRO units must have access to a separate usable storage space within the project.

(Ord. 2023-06 § 6, 2023; Ord. 2002-02 § 2 (part), 2002).

24-176

(Supp. No. xx – 3/28/2024)

24.12.1100

1. An SRO project with twelve or more units shall provide twenty-four-hour on-site management, and include a dwelling unit designated for the manager.

2. All SRO projects must have a management plan approved by the City of Santa Cruz Director of Planning and Community Development. The management plan shall contain management policies, maintenance plans, rental procedures, tenant rules, and security procedures.

(Ord. 2002-02 § 2 (part), 2002).

1. SRO units shall comply with the underlying development standards of the zoning district in which they are located, except that requirements for minimum lot area per dwelling unit shall not apply to SRO units.

2. SRO units shall not be subdivided or individually sold.

(Ord. 2022-02 § 6, 2022).