Cities and counties must allow housing and shelters in urban zones

Cities and counties must allow specified housing and shelters in eligible urban zones and use the same local development standards and review processes as for other housing or lodging. Within urban growth areas, transitional and permanent supportive housing must be allowed where homes or hotels are allowed. Indoor emergency shelters and emergency housing must be allowed where hotels are allowed. Cities and counties may apply objective standards used for other housing or lodging in the same zone, and must still follow applicable state rules. They must allow shelters and emergency housing in additional zone types when needed to meet projected need; they cannot require the covered housing to be in industrial zones. The law does not require approval in certain critical or hazardous areas, or on protected agricultural, forest, or mineral lands. Cities and counties must adopt or amend local rules within two years of the law’s effective date or by their next comprehensive plan update, whichever comes first.

A city or county may negotiate added health and safety rules with a shelter sponsor and may deny the permit if they cannot agree within 180 days. This applies to proposed indoor emergency shelters and emergency housing near another such facility or a public or approved private school. This applies when the proposed indoor shelter or emergency housing is within 500 feet of walking distance from another such facility or from a public or approved private school that existed first. This rule does not apply to facilities for people under 18, families, or victims of domestic violence. A local government that denies a permit under this rule must help the sponsor find a suitable site, and it cannot limit capacity below projected need. The 180-day period starts when the permit application is submitted.

A county or city may contract with a sponsor for added health and safety rules. The contract may cover transitional or permanent supportive housing, indoor emergency shelters, and indoor emergency housing. The local government must provide donated land, a lease of at least 50 years, or a significant general-fund contribution for capital or operating costs, as both sides determine. The local government does not have to make a contract. If it withdraws or changes its promised support, the added operating rules in the contract no longer apply.