SB 1138 Summary

• Requires local governments to identify zones where emergency shelters are permitted as a use by right in residential or mixed-use areas, or in nonresidential zones if connected to amenities and services for homeless people.

• Limits emergency shelter standards to specific written, objective criteria including maximum bed capacity, parking, intake areas, on-site management, proximity requirements (no more than 300 feet apart), length of stay, lighting, and security.

• Establishes a minimum capacity calculation of 200 square feet per person for determining how many homeless individuals can be accommodated on identified shelter sites.

• Accelerates rezoning deadlines for local governments that fail to adopt a compliant housing element within 120 days of the statutory deadline, requiring completion within one year instead of three years for the sixth and subsequent housing element revisions.

• Specifies that adoption of a sixth revision housing element found in substantial compliance with state law satisfies any obligation to adopt four-year interim housing elements.