Sec. 26-131. - Single room occupancy structure (SRO).

The purpose of this section is to assist in providing housing for persons of all income levels, consistent with the public health and safety and good planning practices. The specific purpose of this chapter is to provide access to clean, comfortable, and safe living conditions for residents. A related purpose is to facilitate new construction of efficiency dwelling units, or the structural conversion of transient occupancy uses into single-room occupancy projects, as appropriate, and to require that efficiency units be consistently maintained in accordance with applicable standards so as not to create a public nuisance.

(a)

Efficiency unit standards. Efficiency residential units, also known as single room occupancy ("SRO"), shall be subject to and comply with the following standards and regulations.

(1)

Unit size. Units shall have a minimum size of one hundred fifty (150) square feet and a maximum of four hundred (400) square feet.

(2)

Occupancy. Each unit shall accommodate a maximum of two (2) persons.

(3)

Lighting. Exterior lighting shall be provided for the entire outdoor and parking area of the property per the lighting standards of the Parking Lot Design and Lighting Standards (Planning Commission Resolution No. 2513)

(4)

Laundry facilities. Laundry facilities must be provided in a separate room at the ratio of one (1) washer and one (1) dryer for every twenty (20) units of fractional number thereof, with at least one (1) washer and dryer per floor.

(5)

Cleaning supply room. A cleaning supply room or utility closet with a wash tub and with hot and cold running water shall be provided on each floor of the SRO facility.

(6)

Bathroom. Each unit is required to provide a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower.

(7)

Kitchen. Each unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, functioning cooking appliance and a refrigerator, each having a clear working space of not less than thirty (30) inches.

(8)

Closet. Each SRO unit shall have a separate closet.

(9)

Trash enclosure. An SRO building shall provide a trash enclosure in compliance with the minimum requirements and standards in section 26-81 of this Code.

(10)

Code compliance. SRO units shall comply with all requirements of the California Building Code. All units shall comply with all applicable accessibility and adaptability requirements. All common areas shall be fully accessible.

(11)

Separation. An efficiency unit project shall not be located within three hundred (300) feet of any other efficiency unit project, emergency shelter, or other similar program, unless such program is located within the same building or on the same lot.

(12)

Facilities management. An efficiency units project with ten (10) or more units shall provide on-site management. An efficiency units project with less than ten (10) units may provide a management office onsite.

(13)

Tenancy. Tenancy of efficiency units shall not be less than thirty (30) days.

(14)

Review process. Applications for efficiency unit projects shall be processed in a manner consistent with procedures for a multiple-family residential project per article VI.

(Ord. No. 2519, § 5(Exh. A), 2-20-24)