AB 2553

State Land Use Enacted Legislation

Bill #	State	Year	Party	Topic
AB 2553	CA	2020	D	Building code reform, Environmental review, Planning Requirements

Provided by Furman

Summary

Gives a governing body of a political subdivision the authority to declare a shelter crisis if the governing body makes a specified finding.
If a shelter crisis is declared, existing law suspends certain state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances, including those related to standards of housing, health, or safety, with the argument that strict compliance would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the shelter crisis and allows a city, county, instead of compliance, to adopt reasonable local standards for the design, site development, and operation of homeless shelters
When a shelter crisis is announced, existing California Environmental Quality Act requirements are exempt. Additionally, shelters are exempt from the Special Occupancy Parks Act and the Recreational Vehicle Park Occupancy Law.
Defines a “homeless shelter” as a facility with overnight sleeping accommodations, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary shelter for the homeless that is not in existence after the declared shelter crisis. Definition includes safe parking lots owned or leased by a city or county, specifically designated for individuals living in vehicles.
Jurisdictions must develop plans to transition residents into permanent housing and report annually on “bed capacity.” Standards must align with the California Residential and Building Codes unless a health and safety justification is provided.

Provided by lawmakers