52080
. (a) (1) A multifamily rental housing development financed,
or for which financing has been extended or committed pursuant to
this chapter from the proceeds of sale of each bond issue, shall at
all times during the qualified project period meet the requirement of
subparagraph (A) or (B), whichever is elected by the issuer at the
time of issuance of the issue for each development:
(A) Twenty percent or more of the residential units in the
development shall be occupied by individuals whose income is 50
percent or less of area median income.
(B) Forty percent or more of the residential units in the
development shall be occupied by individuals whose income is 60
percent or less of area median income.
As used in this section, "qualified project period," "income," and
"area median income" shall have the meanings specified in, and shall
be determined in accordance with the provisions of, subsection (d)
of Section 142 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
United States Treasury regulations and rulings promulgated pursuant
thereto.
With respect to a development for which the issuer has elected to
meet the requirement of subparagraph (A), the rental payments paid by
the occupants of the units meeting the requirement of subparagraph
(A) (excluding any supplemental rental assistance from the state, the
federal government, or any other public agency to those occupants or
on behalf of those units) shall not exceed 30 percent of 50 percent
of area median income. With respect to a development for which the
issuer has elected to meet the requirement of subparagraph (B), the
rental payments paid by the occupants of the units meeting the
requirement of subparagraph (B) (excluding any supplemental rental
assistance from the state, the federal government, or any other
public agency to those occupants or on behalf of those units) shall
not exceed 30 percent of 60 percent of area median income.
(2) The governing body shall ensure that the local agency issuing
permits for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation,
refinancing, or development of the multifamily rental housing
development shall consider opportunities to contribute to the
economic feasibility of the units and to the provision of units for
very low income households through concessions and inducements
including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) Reductions in construction and design requirements.
(B) Reductions in setback and square footage requirements and the
ratio of vehicular parking spaces that would otherwise be required.
(C) Granting density bonuses.
(D) Providing expedited processing of permits.
(E) Modifying zoning code requirements to allow mixed use zoning.
(F) Reducing or eliminating fees and charges for filing and
processing applications, petitions, permits, planning services, water
and sewer connections, and other fees and charges.
(G) Reducing or eliminating requirements relating to monetary
exactions, dedications, reservations of land, or construction of
public facilities.
(H) Other financial incentives or concessions for the multifamily
rental housing development which result in identifiable cost
reductions, as determined by the governing body. The governing body
shall ensure that the local agency issuing permits for the
development considers its responsibilities under this section and
makes a good faith effort to enhance the feasibility of the project
and to provide housing for lower income households and very low
income households.
(3) The governing body shall not permit a selection criteria to be
applied to certificate holders under Section 8 of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1437f) that is more burdensome
than the criteria applied to all other prospective tenants.
(4) It is the intent of the Legislature that the governing body
finance projects that assist in meeting the urgent need for providing
shelter for lower income households, very low income households, and
persons and families of low or moderate income. To that end, the
quality of materials and the amenities provided should not be
excessive so as to hinder the prospect of achieving the stated goal.
(5) It is the intent of the Legislature that the governing body
finance projects that assist in meeting the urgent need for providing
housing for families. To that end, developments with three- and
four-bedroom units affordable to larger families shall have priority
over competing developments.
(b) As a condition of financing pursuant to this chapter, the
housing sponsor shall enter into a regulatory agreement with the city
or county providing that units reserved for occupancy by lower
income households remain available on a priority basis for occupancy
until the bonds are retired. As a condition of financing provided by
bonds issued on or after January 1, 1991, the housing sponsor shall
enter into a regulatory agreement with the city or county providing
that units reserved for occupancy by lower income households remain
available on a priority basis for occupancy for the qualified project
period. The regulatory agreement shall contain a provision making
the covenants and conditions of the agreement binding upon successors
in interest of the housing sponsor. The regulatory agreement shall
be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in
which the multifamily rental housing development is located. The
regulatory agreement shall be recorded in the grantor-grantee index
to the name of the property owner as grantor and to the name of the
city or county as grantee.
(c) The governing body shall ensure that units occupied by lower
income households are of comparable quality and offer a range of
sizes and number of bedrooms comparable to the units that are
available to other tenants.
(d) (1) The city or county shall give priority to processing
construction loans and mortgage loans or may take other steps such as
reducing loan fees or other local fees for multifamily rental
developments which incorporate innovative and energy-efficient
techniques that reduce development or operating costs and that have
the lowest feasible per unit cost, as determined by the city or
county, based on efficiency of design or the elimination of
improvements that are not required by applicable building standards.
(2) The city or county shall give equal priority to processing
construction loans and mortgage loans or may take other steps such as
reducing loan fees or other local fees on multifamily rental housing
developments that do any of the following:
(A) Utilize federal housing or development assistance.
(B) Utilize redevelopment funds or other local financial
assistance, including, but not limited to, contributions of land.
(C) Are sponsored by a nonprofit housing organization.
(D) Provide a significant number of housing units, as determined
by the city or county, as part of a coordinated jobs and housing plan
adopted by the city or county.
(E) Exceeds the ratios specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) or restricts the occupancy for these
units for the longest period beyond the required minimum number of
years.
(e) (1) New and existing rental housing developments may be
syndicated after prior written approval of the governing body. The
governing body shall grant that approval only after the city or
county determines that the terms and conditions of the syndication
comply with this section.
(2) The terms and conditions of the syndication shall not reduce
or limit any of the requirements of this chapter or regulations
adopted or documents executed pursuant to this chapter. No
requirements of the city or county shall be subordinated to the
syndication agreement. A syndication shall not result in the
provision of fewer assisted units, or the reduction of any benefits
or services, than were in existence prior to the syndication
agreement.
(f) At the option of the city or county, the amendments to this
subdivision made by Chapter 907 of the Statutes of 1983 may be made
applicable to any multifamily rental housing development financed by
the issuance, on or after September 3, 1982, of bonds authorized by
this chapter.
(g) Following the expiration or termination of the qualified
project period, except in the event of foreclosure and redemption of
the bonds, deed in lieu of foreclosure, eminent domain, or action of
a federal agency preventing enforcement, units required to be
reserved for occupancy pursuant to subdivision (a) and financed or
refinanced with proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to this section on
or after January 1, 1991, or refinanced with the proceeds of bonds
issued pursuant to Section 53583 of the Government Code or any
charter city authority on or after January 1, 2007, shall remain
available to any eligible household occupying a reserved unit at the
date of expiration or termination, at a rent not greater than the
amount set forth by subdivision (a), until the earliest of any of the
following occur:
(1) The household's income exceeds 140 percent of the maximum
eligible income specified in subdivision (a).
(2) The household voluntarily moves or is evicted for "good cause."
"Good cause" for the purposes of this section, means the nonpayment
of rent or allegation of facts necessary to prove major, or repeated
minor, violations of material provisions of the occupancy agreement
which detrimentally affect the health and safety of other persons or
the structure, the fiscal integrity of the development, or the
purposes or special programs of the development.
(3) Thirty years after the date of the commencement of the
qualified project period.
(4) The sponsor pays the relocation assistance and benefits to
tenants as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 7264 of the
Government Code.
(5) The amendment to this subdivision made during the 2005-06
Regular Session of the Legislature is declaratory of existing law.
(h) During the three years prior to expiration of the qualified
project period, the sponsor shall continue to make available to
eligible households reserved units that have been vacated to the same
extent that nonreserved units are made available to noneligible
households.
(i) This section shall not be construed to require a city or
county to monitor the sponsor's compliance with the provisions of
subdivision (g).
(j) The requirements of subdivisions (g) to (i), inclusive, shall
be contained in a regulatory agreement required pursuant to
subdivision (b).
(k) Notwithstanding Section 1461 of the Civil Code, the provisions
of this section shall run with the land and may be enforced either
in law or in equity by any resident, local agency, entity, or by any
other person adversely affected by an owner's failure to comply with
this section.