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The CACC worked closely with the City Council
staff, Development Services Department, City Attorney’s Office and San
Diego Police Department in developing and implementing four tools to
deal with nuisance rental housing properties:
(1) Administrative
Citation Program - Nuisance and behavior issues are being addressed
through Neighborhood Code Compliance and the San Diego Police Department
by issuing $1000 administrative citations to responsible parties on
disturbance calls for loud music and/or loud parties in violation of
Municipal Code Chapter 5 Noise Regulations. The program began in April
2007 as a pilot program in Mid-City and has now expanded citywide.
(2) Land Development
Code Amendments - On July 24, 2007, the City Council adopted
amendments to address inconsistent physical development related to
nuisance rental housing properties. Following is a summary of the new
regulations:
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RS zone (lots with less than 10,000 square feet):
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Limited to 6 bedrooms maximum
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Hardscape for vehicular use limited to 4 surface parking spaces
maximum
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RS zone lots limited to 60 percent maximum hardscape in the front
yard
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New single dwelling unit parking standards ensure parking spaces
will be functional
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In the campus impact area (single dwelling units with 5 or more
bedrooms):
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New development must provide one parking space for each bedroom
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A minimum of 2 parking spaces are required in a garage
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In the parking impact overlay zone, all lots are required to have
a 12-foot driveway at the front property line.
(3) Residential High
Occupancy Permit - On January 14, 2008, the City Council voted to
approve Residential High Occupancy Permit requires an annual permit and
fees for any single dwelling unit with 6 or more adult occupants. The
permit will require additional parking per occupant and would be
revocable as an enforcement remedy. A permit fee waiver option based on
Area Median Income was included in the revised ordinance as requested by
the City Council.
(4) Rooming House Ordinance – On March 24, 2008, the City Council
voted to approve the Rooming House Ordinance. The purpose of the
ordinance is to address the chronic and growing commercial overuse of
dwelling units especially in residential-single unit zones. The
ordinance defines a rooming house as a dwelling unit where three or more
rooms are rented individually or separately, to tenants under separate
rental agreements. Rooming houses are not permitted in RS, RM-1, or RM-2
zones. A phase out period allows existing rooming houses in RS, RM-1,
and RM-2 zones to continue to operate as a previously conforming use for
three years. The enforcement procedures, including how to identify
situations where there are “de facto” separate rental agreements even
though all tenants have signed a master lease, will be included in the
Administrative Guidelines.
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