The following definitions shall be applicable to this chapter.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT (DENSITY BONUS). A residential dwelling unit in a housing development that is subject to affordability restrictions established in accordance with this chapter and Cal. Gov't Code § 65915. For rental housing, an affordable housing unit (density bonus) is one for which the allowable monthly housing expenses including rent, utilities, and other permitted costs do not exceed a specified proportion of the applicable county's median income (adjusted for household size) as determined by city guidelines and applicable state law. For ownership housing, an affordable housing unit (density bonus) is one sold at an affordable sales price and housing cost and is subject to resale restrictions that preserve affordability.
BASE DENSITY. The maximum number of dwelling units allowed under the zoning ordinance, specific plan, or the general plan land use element applicable to the project, or, if a range of density is permitted, base density means the greatest number of units allowed by the specific zoning district, specific plan, or the land use element designation applicable to the project.
COMMON INTEREST DEVELOPMENT. As set forth in Cal. Civil Code § 4100.
CONCESSION OR INCENTIVE. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(k), which is:
(1) A reduction in site development standards or a modification of zoning code requirements or architectural design requirements that exceed the minimum building standards approved by the California Building Standards Commission as provided in Cal. Health and Safety Code Division 13, Part 2.5 (commencing with § 18901), including, but not limited to, a reduction in setback and square footage requirements and in the ratio of vehicular parking spaces that would otherwise be required that results in identifiable and actual cost reductions, to provide for affordable housing costs, as defined in Cal. Health and Safety Code § 50052.5, or for rents for the targeted units to be set as specified in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(c).
(2) Approval of mixed-use zoning in conjunction with the housing project if commercial, office, industrial, or other land uses will reduce the cost of the housing development and if the commercial, office, industrial, or other land uses are compatible with the housing project and the existing or planned development in
the area where the proposed housing project will be located.
(3) Other regulatory concessions or incentives proposed by the developer or the city, county, or city and county that result in identifiable and actual cost reductions to provide for affordable housing costs, as defined in Cal. Health and Safety Code § 50052.5, or for rents for the targeted units to be set as specified in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(c).
DEVELOPMENT STANDARD. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(o)(2); a site or construction condition, including, but not limited to, a height limitation, setback requirement, floor area ratio, an on-site open-space requirement, a minimum lot area per unit requirement, or a parking ratio that applies to a housing development pursuant to any ordinance, general plan element, specific plan, or other local condition, law, policy, resolution, or regulation.
DISABLED VETERAN. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 18541; any veteran who is currently declared by the United States Veterans Administration to be 10% or more disabled as a result of service in the armed forces. Proof of such disability shall be deemed conclusive if it is of record in the United States Veterans Administration.
EQUIVALENT SIZE DWELLING UNIT. A dwelling unit that replaces another dwelling unit and contains at least the same number of bedrooms as the unit being replaced.
FOSTER YOUTH. As set forth in Cal. Education Code § 66025.9; a person in California whose dependency was established or continued by a court of competent jurisdiction, including a tribal court, on or after the youth's thirteenth birthday and who is no older than 25 years of age at the commencement of the academic year.
HOMELESS PERSON. As defined in § 11302 of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 USC 119).
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(i); a development project for five or more residential dwelling units, including mixed-use developments, subdivisions, or common interest development. A housing development may consist of residential units or unimproved residential lots, and either a project to substantially rehabilitate and convert an existing commercial building to residential use, or the substantial rehabilitation of an existing multi-family dwelling where the result of the rehabilitation would result in a net increase in available residential units. For purposes of calculating a density bonus, the residential units shall be on contiguous sites that are the subject of one development application but do not have to be based upon individual subdivision maps or parcels. The density bonus shall be permitted in geographic areas of the housing development other than the areas where the units for the lower-income households are located.
LOWER-INCOME STUDENT. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(o)(4); a student who has a household income and asset level that does not exceed the level for Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B award recipients as set forth in Cal. Education Code § 69432.7(k)(1). The eligibility of a student to occupy a unit for lower-income students under this section shall be verified by an affidavit, award letter, or letter of eligibility provided by the institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled or by the California Student Aid Commission that the student receives or is eligible for financial aid, including an institutional grant or fee waiver from the college or university, the California Student Aid Commission, or the federal government.
SENIOR CITIZEN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. As set forth in Cal. Civil Code § 51.3(b)(4); a housing development developed, substantially rehabilitated, or substantially renovated for, senior citizens that has at least 35 dwelling units. Any senior citizen housing development which is required to obtain a public report under Cal. Business and Professions Code § 11010 and which submits its application for a public report after July 1, 2001, shall be required to have been issued a public report as a senior citizen housing development under Cal. Business and Professions Code § 11010.05. No housing development constructed prior to January 1, 1985, shall fail to qualify as a senior citizen housing development because it was not originally developed or put to use for occupancy by senior citizens.
SHARED HOUSING BUILDING. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(o)(7); a residential or mixed-use structure, with five or more shared housing units and one or more common kitchens and dining areas designed for permanent residence of more than 30 days by its tenants. The kitchens and dining areas within the shared housing building shall be able to adequately accommodate all residents. A SHARED HOUSING BUILDING may include other dwelling units that are not shared housing units, provided that those dwelling units do not occupy more than 25% of the floor area of the shared housing building. A shared housing building may include 100% shared housing units.
SHARED HOUSING UNIT. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(o)(7); one or more habitable rooms, not within another dwelling unit, that includes a bathroom, sink, refrigerator, and microwave, is used for permanent residence, that meets the "minimum room area" specified in Cal. Residential Code § R304 (Part 2.5 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), and complies with the definition of "guestroom" in Section R202 of the California Residential Code. SHARED HOUSING UNIT for purposes of a residential care facility for the elderly, as defined in Cal. Health and Safety Code § 1569.2, includes a unit without an individual kitchen where a unit may be shared by unrelated persons, and a unit where a room that may be shared by unrelated persons meets the "minimum room area" requirements of the California Residential Code.
STUDENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(o)(8); a development that contains bedrooms containing two or more bedspaces that have a shared or private bathroom, access to a shared or private living room and laundry facilities, and access to a shared or private kitchen.
TOTAL UNITS OR TOTAL DWELLING UNITS.
(1) As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(o)(9); a calculation of the number of units that:
(a) Excludes unit(s) added by a density bonus awarded pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Includes unit(s) designated to satisfy the requirements of Chapter 17.42.
(2) For purposes of calculating a density bonus granted pursuant to this chapter for a shared housing building, UNIT means one shared housing unit and its pro rata share of associated common area facilities.
UNOBSTRUCTED ACCESS. Access to a major transit stop that the income qualified resident of the housing development is able to walk or bike to from the residence without encountering natural or constructed impediments, which include, but are not limited to, freeways, rivers, mountains, harbors and other bodies of water, but does not include residential structures, shopping centers, parking lots, or rails used for transit with legal
pedestrian access through the property.
WAIVER. A waiver or reduction of a development standard that would have the effect of physically precluding the construction of a development eligible for a density bonus at the density or with the concessions or incentives permitted by Cal. Gov't Code § 65915.
VERY LOW VEHICLE TRAVEL AREA. As set forth in Cal. Gov't Code § 65915(o)(10); an urbanized area, as designated by the United States Census Bureau, where the existing housing development generates vehicle miles traveled per capita that is below 85% of either regional vehicle miles traveled per capita or city vehicle miles traveled per capita. For purposes of this definition, "area" may include a travel analysis zone, hexagon, or grid. For the purposes of determining "regional vehicle miles traveled per capita" pursuant to this definition, a "region" is the entirety of incorporated and unincorporated areas governed by a multi-county or single-county metropolitan planning organization, or the entirety of the incorporated and unincorporated areas of an individual county that is not part of a metropolitan planning organization.
(Ord. 2025-09 § 13, 2025)