Patterson Municipal Code § 18.58.010 Purpose

It is the intent of this chapter to provide for adequate development and operational standards to ensure appropriate housing and services for special needs populations are met. This chapter establishes regulations for permitting emergency shelters by-right, requiring no conditional use permit or other discretionary permit, in the Downtown Core Zoning District. Additionally, this chapter establishes an overlay zone within the existing heavy industrial district that shall permit emergency shelters subject to the regulations set forth for the heavy industrial district zone as well as the regulations and requirements of this chapter. This chapter identifies an acceptable zone, in compliance with Senate Bill 2 (2007), where an emergency homeless shelter may be established without the need of a conditional use permit.

(Ord. 736 (part), 2012; Ord. 782 (part), 2015; Ord. 888, 7/21/2026)

"Emergency shelter"

shall mean housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless person. No individual or household may be denied emergency shelter because of an inability to pay (as defined by California Health and Safety Code Section 50801(e)). Emergency shelters shall include other interim interventions, including, but not limited to, a navigation center, bridge housing, and respite or recuperative care consistent with Government Code Section 65583(a)(4)(C)).

"Emergency shelter overlay zone"

shall mean the parcels north of Sperry, west of S. 4th Street, and south of C Street.

"Habitable room"

shall mean any room that meets adopted building code requirements for a habitable room, including minimum room proportions, minimum egress requirements, and minimum standards for lighting, ventilation, and electricity.

"Heavy industrial district"

shall mean areas with industrial parks, warehouses, manufacturing, public and quasi-public uses, and similar and compatible uses as defined in Chapter 18.96.

(Ord. 736 (part), 2012; Ord. 782 (part), 2015; Ord. 888, 7/21/2026)

The city identifies the Downtown Core Zoning District as an acceptable zone for permitting the establishment of emergency shelters by-right, requiring no conditional use permit or other discretionary permit. This shall be the primary zone for establishing emergency shelters.

Additionally, the city identifies the parcels of land north of Sperry Avenue, west of S. 4th Street, and south of C Street, as an acceptable zone for permitting the establishment of an emergency homeless shelter without requiring a conditional use permit.

This area is located within the zone designated as a "heavy industrial district." The city amends the zoning code to create an overlay zone located exclusively on the parcels described above in the Heavy Industrial Zoning District. An emergency shelter shall be a permitted use in this overlay zone. In addition to requirements set forth concerning heavy industrial districts, emergency shelters within this overlay zone are subject to the requirements stated in this section.

(Ord. 736 (part), 2012; Ord. 782 (part), 2015; Ord. 888, 7/21/2026)

Prior to operating an emergency shelter, a nondiscretionary permit shall be obtained and all other applicable local, state and federal laws, regulations and codes shall be met. The approval shall be specific to a location and shall not be transferable to any other location. The application shall be on a form prescribed for that purpose, and shall include the written consent of the owner of the property on which the shelter is to be located. The permit shall be recorded on the property and shall run with the land.

(Ord. 736 (part), 2012; Ord. 782 (part), 2015; Ord. 888, 7/21/2026)

A. Once an application has been accepted as complete, the community development director or designee shall take action within 30 days.

B. Once an application has been accepted as complete, the community development director or designee shall refer the permit application to city departments and any other agencies deemed appropriate by the community development director.

C. In considering an application for a permit pursuant to this section, the application shall meet all of the following standards:

1. The application shall be for an "emergency shelter" as defined in the California Health and Safety Code Section 50801(e) and Government Code Section 65583(a)(4)(C)).

2. Repealed by Ord. 888.

3. Emergency shelter facilities shall comply with all federal and California state licensing requirements.

4. Emergency shelter facilities shall comply with all applicable Uniform Building and Fire Codes, including maximum occupancy restrictions.

5. Maximum Number of Beds. No more than 25 beds shall be provided in any single emergency homeless shelter facility.

(Ord. 736 (part), 2012; Ord. 782 (part), 2015; Ord. 888, 7/21/2026)

Emergency shelter facilities shall comply with all standards provided in this chapter.

A. Development Standards.

1. Location and Separation.

a. Repealed by Ord. 888.

b. All shelter programs must be situated a minimum of 300 feet from any other similar shelter program.

2. Physical Characteristics.

a. The maximum number of beds for emergency and transitional housing shall be 25.

b. Smoke detectors, approved by the Patterson fire chief, must be provided in all sleeping and food preparation areas.

B. Operational Standards.

1. Repealed by Ord. 888.

2. Repealed by Ord. 888.

3. Adequate lighting shall be provided in all parking, pedestrian paths, and entry areas. Lights shall be shielded and reflected away from adjacent uses.

4. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65583(a)(4)(B)(ii), emergency shelters shall provide either sufficient parking to accommodate all staff working in the emergency shelter, or an amount of parking equal to other residential or commercial uses within the same zone, whichever is less.

5. Adequate management, support staff and security must be present during the hours of operation of the facility. A minimum of one supervisory level staff member must be present on the site during hours of operation. Management staff must make best efforts to ensure that loitering does not occur on the property during off-hours and must ensure that clients are not creating a nuisance to the neighborhood.

6. A security guard/officer must be provided during the intake period. The shelter shall have set hours of operation and the hours shall be posted in a publicly visible and accessible location.

C. Management Plan.

1. The shelter shall prepare and file with the city a management plan that includes but is not limited to:

a. A resident identification process;

b. Timing and placement of outdoor activities;

c. Standards governing expulsions;

d. Hours of operation and standard lights-out;

e. Loitering control;

f. Policies regarding safety and security.

D. Shelter Approval.

1. The city shall not deny an emergency shelter proposed in the appropriately designated zone unless it makes findings that:

a. The city has met or exceeded the need for emergency shelters in its community.

b. The emergency shelter would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact without rendering the development of the emergency shelter financially infeasible. As used in this subsection, a "specific, adverse impact" means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete. Inconsistency with the zoning ordinance or general plan land use designation shall not constitute a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety.

c. The denial of the shelter or imposition of conditions is required in order to comply with specific state or federal law, and there is no feasible method to comply without rendering the development of the emergency shelter financially infeasible.

d. The emergency shelter is proposed on land zoned for agriculture or resource preservation that is surrounded on at least two sides by land being used for agricultural or resource preservation purposes, or which does not have adequate water or wastewater facilities to serve the project.

e. The emergency shelter is inconsistent with both the jurisdiction's zoning ordinance and general plan land use designation as specified in any element of the general plan as it existed on the date the application was deemed complete, and the jurisdiction has adopted a revised housing element in accordance with California Government Code Section 65588 that is in substantial compliance with state law.

E. Severability. In the event that any portion of this chapter is rendered or declared invalid, the remaining portions of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect.

(Ord. 736 (part), 2012; Ord. 782 (part), 2015; Ord. 888, 7/21/2026)