AB 2553 Summary

• Expands shelter crisis declaration provisions to apply to any city or county, rather than only specified jurisdictions, enabling broader use of emergency housing authorities.

• Requires jurisdictions adopting ordinances for homeless shelters to meet minimum standards from the 2019 California Residential Code Appendix X and Building Code Appendix O unless they provide written justification explaining why standards cannot be met and how their standards protect health and safety.

• Exempts homeless shelters from the Recreational Vehicle Park Occupancy Law and expands the definition of "homeless shelter" to include parking lots owned or leased by cities, counties, or city and counties specifically designated for safe parking of homeless and unstably housed individuals.

• Requires jurisdictions to develop shelter crisis plans by July 1, 2021 (or within one year of declaration for declarations after January 1, 2021) and include plans to transition residents to permanent housing.

• Extends the repeal date of these provisions from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2026 and requires annual reporting to Legislature including new metrics on bed capacity of shelters built.