City of Long Beach - File #: 20-1111

• File #: 20-1111
• Version: 2
• Name: DS - Zone Code Amendment – Micro Unit Pilot Program
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 10/20/2020
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 12/8/2020
• Final action: 12/8/2020
• Title: Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 21.15.1756 and Section 21.45.600, relating to micro-units, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
• Sponsors: Development Services

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/8/2020	2	City Council	approve recommendation and adopt	Pass
11/17/2020	1	City Council	declare ordinance read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading	Pass

TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Section 21.15.1756 and Section 21.45.600, relating to micro-units, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)

DISCUSSION
In May 2017, the City Council adopted 29 policy recommendations to support the production of affordable and workforce housing. Policy 3.11 directs staff to develop a plan to include micro-units as a method for encouraging housing production.

Micro-unit housing is a newer housing typology that is affordable to moderate-income households. These dwelling units are typically small studio apartments, usually less than 350 square feet, with a fully functioning and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible kitchen and bathroom. While micro-units are not subsidized affordable units, they can be an affordable rental housing solution for single-person households and young professionals-offering cost savings to renters. When compared to a conventional studio in the same market, the gross rents for micro-units tend to be 20 to 30 percent lower than the rent for a conventional studio unit. Because micro-units are generally developed without public subsidies, this type of housing offers a market-based solution for tackling issues of housing affordability.

As such, establishing a pilot program to allow micro-units in Long Beach, in accordance with Recommendation 3.11 of the 2017 Report, could diversify the City’s housing stock and provide more affordable housing options for students and young professionals.
In response to housing shortages and concerns about housing affordability nationwide, many United States cities have developed micro-unit regulations to facilitate a greater number of smaller units as one strategy to foster housing production and increase housing supply. Staff’s research found that micro-unit projects tend to be in highly desirable locations, close to public transit, with a variety of quality amenities to attract prospective occupants. As s...