SEC. 202.15. INTERIM HOUSING IN HOTELS AND MOTELS.

(a) Purpose. This Section 202.15 is intended to create additional opportunities to locate shelters for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness where those persons can receive on-site supportive services. Interim Housing can help reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Tourist Hotels and Motels are authorized under the Planning Code as separate uses, both of which are considered part of the Retail Sales and Service use category. Hotels and Motels are

generally designed to offer privacy for individuals or small groups of individuals in a non-congregate setting while also providing a common space for gathering and various services. This layout and structure is a natural fit for Interim Housing, where individuals or small groups of individuals may desire or need private accommodations while still needing certain supportive services. At the same time, Tourist Hotels and Motels may not desire to locate Interim Housing on their premises, if it would result in the loss of the underlying Hotel or Motel use. This Section allows Tourist Hotel and Motel operators to locate Interim Housing, as defined, on their properties without losing the underlying Hotel or Motel use.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 202.15, the following definitions shall apply.

“Client” means any person residing in or seeking to reside in Interim Housing, and includes any dependent children under the age of 18.

“Interim Housing” means a Residential use located on land owned or leased by the City, or provided through a contractual arrangement between the City and a third party, that provides shelter to Clients experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and provides on-site supportive services, including, without limitation, intake and assessment of Clients’ needs, outreach to the Clients to assist them with health or social needs, management of the health or social needs of Clients, and referrals for services to the Clients.

(c) Interim Housing Use Authorized. A Hotel or Motel identified in this subsection 202.15(c) may operate all or any portion of its premises as Interim Housing without abandoning or discontinuing its land use authorization as a Hotel or Motel under the Planning Code, irrespective of whether such existing Hotel or Motel use is a principally permitted, conditionally permitted, or nonconforming use. This authorization shall not be interpreted to exempt the Hotel or Motel use from any provision of the Planning Code. Any Interim Housing use authorized pursuant to this Section 202.15 shall be permitted for no more than 90 days after the shelter emergency pursuant to Government Code Section 8698.4 is terminated.

Interim Housing is authorized at only the following locations: Block 3519, Lots 006, 010, and 012; Block 0496, Lot 013; Block 3731, Lot 003; and Block 3703, Lot 081.

(d) Application. The property owner or the property owner’s authorized agent (in either case, “Applicant”) shall submit an application for Interim Housing use to the Planning Department, on a form prepared by the Planning Department. The application shall include an affidavit signed by the Applicant, and the property owner, if the Applicant is not the property owner, detailing the proposed Interim Housing use of the property. A Hotel or Motel identified in subsection (c) and existing after April 1, 2025 may apply to establish Interim Housing pursuant to this Section 202.15 without losing its Hotel or Motel use.

(e) No Conversion, Change, Discontinuance, or Abandonment of Use. The approval or commencement of the Interim Housing authorized under this Section 202.15 shall not be considered a conversion, discontinuance, abandonment, or change of use for purposes of this Code, notwithstanding Sections 178 and 183 of this Code, or any other related provisions. Any Hotel or Motel use established as of the time the Interim Housing use shall continue to be authorized under the Planning Code for as long as such property is used for Interim Housing pursuant to this Section 202.15.

(f) Application of Other Development Controls and Requirements. The Interim Housing use that is authorized pursuant to this Section 202.15 shall not be required to comply with development standards applicable to new residential uses, including but not limited to density, rear yard, open space, exposure, and other requirements set forth in Articles 1.2, 1.5, or 2 of the Planning Code. The Interim Housing use shall not be subject to any development impact fees or development requirements set forth in Article 4 of the Planning Code as a prerequisite to obtaining authorization pursuant to this Section 202.15.

(g) Termination of Interim Housing Use. Prior to the termination of the Interim Housing use authorized under this Section 202.15, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, or other City funding agency, if applicable, shall work with the Interim Housing service provider, if any, to relocate existing program participants prior to the time the Interim Housing use terminates. No less than one year prior to expiration of any agreement to provide Interim Housing, the property owner or landlord shall provide notice to the City agency that funded the Interim Housing, of its intent to not renew any agreement with the City or Interim Housing provider, in order to allow the City agency that funded the Interim Housing, and the service provider time to assist in relocating existing program participant of the Interim Housing.

agreement to provide Interim Housing, the property owner or landlord shall provide notice to the City agency that funded the Interim Housing, of its intent to not renew any agreement with the City or Interim Housing provider, in order to allow the City agency that funded the Interim Housing, and the service provider time to assist in relocating existing program participant of the Interim Housing.

(h) Reactivation of Hotel or Motel Use for Certain Shelter-In-Place Hotels. Notwithstanding Section 178, a Hotel or Motel located at Block 0304, Lot 005, Block 0715, Lot 011, Block 0335, Lot 027 that otherwise abandoned or discontinued the Tourist Hotel use due to participation in the City’s Shelter-In-Place Hotel Program may reestablish such use, if the Zoning Administrator determines that: (1) the Hotel or Motel entered into an agreement with the City to provide non-congregant shelter as part of the City’s Shelter-In-Place Hotel Program; and (2) the Hotel or Motel continued to provide shelter services under an agreement with the City on or after January 1, 2025. Any such reestablished use shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Planning Code, provided that the Hotel or Motel use shall not be required to comply with Article 4 of the Planning Code concerning development impact fees and project requirements to reestablish the use, and the abandonment of the shelter use and reactivation of the Hotel or Motel use shall not be considered removal of residential units pursuant to Section 317. The authorization in this subsection 202.15(h) shall not apply to any units that were Residential Units in a Residential Hotel, as those terms are defined in Chapter 41 of the Administrative Code, at the time the Hotel or Motel began to participate in the Shelter-in-Place Hotel Program.

(Added by Ord. 39-25, File No. 241067, App. 4/3/2025, Eff. 5/4/2025; amended by Ord. 98-25, File No. 250257, App. 6/27/2025, Eff. 7/28/2025)

AMENDMENT HISTORY

Divisions (c), (g) amended; division (h) added; Ord. 98-25, Eff. 7/28/2025.