Employee Housing ActPermits and Fees
Section § 17030
If you run employee housing in California, you must get a permit from the proper enforcement agency unless you are specifically exempted. It's illegal to operate such housing without this annual permit. However, certain housing on dairy farms may not need a permit if specific conditions are met. The permit's validity typically lasts until the end of the calendar year. The Department of Housing and Community Development handles permits for housing owned by railroads.
Section § 17030.5
This law outlines the conditions under which permits can be issued for operating employee housing. If the housing is just permanent single-family housing, a longer permit of up to five years can be granted. However, during the first year of operation, or if there have been violations in the past two years, the permit is limited to one year. If a permit for more than one year is issued, the agency must provide written reasons, which include details about the construction year, operating years with a valid permit, complaints, and past violations.
Section § 17030.10
This law explains the process for certifying organizations that want to manage affordable housing specifically for agricultural employees. To get certified, the organization must have relevant experience in California and demonstrate the capability to manage the housing long-term. Eligible entities include non-profit corporations with a focus on low-income housing, local public housing agencies, and similar not-for-profit organizations. The law details specific qualifications for these organizations, such as a diverse and community-based board or owning other income-restricted properties. Additionally, any organization previously funded by the department that is in good standing can be automatically certified if they meet certain criteria.
Section § 17031
If you operate permanent single-family employee housing on a dairy farm, you can ask for an exemption from yearly permit requirements. To do this, you need to notify tenants in writing and submit a written request to the enforcement agency.
You will get this exemption unless your housing fails health and safety laws or has had violations in the last two years. If the exemption is granted, the agency will review it annually and will write down reasons for the decision including details about construction year, complaint history, and any past violations.
If the housing is not maintained properly, especially in ways that affect residents' health and safety, the agency can take back the exemption.
Section § 17031.3
Anyone running employee community housing in California needs a permit unless they get an exemption. To request an exemption, they must notify the enforcement agency and the tenants, allowing tenants to report any health and safety issues.
The enforcement agency will only grant exemptions if the housing is not violating health and safety laws. Exemptions are specific to each community and don't transfer to other communities owned by the same person.
Exempted housing must still follow the State Housing Law and report any violations. At least once every 10 years, owners must remind tenants that they can report safety issues. Exemptions can be revoked if the housing isn’t kept up to standard.
Section § 17031.4
If a local agency grants a housing exemption under Section 17031.3, it needs to report certain details to the department. This includes information about when the housing was built, how long it has been used for employee housing with a valid permit, any complaints filed during its operation, any health and safety violations found in the last inspection, and confirmation that the housing complies with Section 17005.5 after being exempted under Section 17031.3.
Section § 17031.5
This law makes it illegal for people who operate employee housing to retaliate against tenants. Retaliation means doing things like increasing rent, cutting services, or evicting tenants just because they exercised their rights, like filing complaints or taking legal action. If an employer or landlord does retaliate, tenants can use this as a defense if the landlord tries to evict them. There's a strong presumption of retaliation if action is taken within six months of the tenant exercising their rights. However, tenants can't claim retaliation if they caused a bad living condition themselves.
Section § 17031.6
This law outlines specific procedures for eviction cases involving employee housing. If a tenant argues they are not guilty of unlawful eviction because they've engaged in protected activities, and claims the landlord's eviction reason is just a cover, the trial is postponed at least 30 days. During this postponement, reasonable discovery must occur unless both parties agree to an earlier date.
If the landlord presents evidence of legitimate reasons for eviction, like renovating or demolishing the property, the trial can be delayed again. If the trial is delayed, a landlord might request the tenant to pay the reasonable rental value to the court during the delay, considering factors like the tenant's chances to win, ability to pay, and other relevant issues.
Section § 17031.7
This law protects employees who live in housing provided by their employer from facing negative job actions if they exercise their rights regarding their housing. If an employee living in employer-provided housing speaks out about housing conditions, exercises legal rights related to their housing, or takes legal action to enforce these rights, the employer cannot retaliate against the employee by firing them, reducing their pay, demoting them, or any other harmful employment actions.
This protection applies whether the employer has an exemption from housing regulations or is applying for one and also links to other tenant protection laws. Essentially, it ensures that employees can freely assert their rights about housing issues without fearing negative repercussions at work.
Section § 17031.8
Every year, by March 31, agencies responsible for enforcing this housing law must report certain information to the Department of Housing and Community Development. They must use the forms provided and include details about employee housing, like how many permits were issued, violations found, and inspections completed. Even inactive or unpermitted accommodations need to be reported. The department then summarizes this info for its annual housing report. The law also requires tracking the number of related staff hours and any legal actions taken due to violations.
Between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2012, certain reporting activities in this section were not in effect. Additionally, the department must provide this collected information to the public upon written request.
Section § 17032
If you want to operate employee housing, you need to apply for a permit from the enforcement agency at least 45 days before people start moving in. Use the forms they give you and include the owner's contact info, location of the housing, number of people it will house, details on the facilities, and when the housing will be used.
If any of this info changes, you need to get an updated permit.
Section § 17033
This law states that the rules in Section 17032 do not apply to employee housing run by railroad companies. Instead, these companies must apply for an operating permit from the Department of Housing and Community Development within 30 days of people moving in.
The permit application must include the owner's and operator's contact information, the housing's location, the number of occupants, a description of the housing facilities, and the dates of current occupancy.
Railroad companies are not required to amend the permit if the provided details change, but they must update the department if requested reasonably.
Section § 17034
If someone with a permit to operate employee housing breaks any related rules or standards, the enforcement agency must take action right away by following the procedures in Section 17055.
Section § 17035
This law requires the department to create and keep an updated list of two things: all employee housing that has a valid operating permit, and all affordable housing organizations that are certified according to a specific section.
Section § 17036
This law requires the department to create regulations for permitting employee housing and outlines procedures for suspending these permits. It specifies fees for issuing and operating these permits, such as a $200 fee to run employee housing and a $27 per-employee fee for housing provided by the operator. The department can change fees as needed to cover administrative costs. Additionally, there's a dedicated fund to manage these fees, ensuring that funds don't exceed the necessary costs for regulation enforcement. If excess funds are accumulated, the fees will be lowered accordingly.
Section § 17037
If you're building or running employee housing, you must follow certain standards and get a permit. If you operate without a permit, you'll have to pay double the fee the first time you're caught.
If you're caught again within five years, you have to pay ten times the fee, even if it's in a different place. If you own land for agricultural worker housing and don't find a certified operator, you might face penalties.
Section § 17037.5
If you stop operating employee housing in California, you must fill out a Certificate of Non-Operation every year for two years, declaring that the housing has been destroyed, sold, or won't house five or more employees. You’ll need to provide your contact details and details about the housing. Submit this to the relevant authority within 30 days of receiving the form. Additionally, if your permit expires or you can’t continue to operate approved agricultural housing, the landowner must find another approved affordable housing organization within 90 days to take over.
Section § 17038
This law requires that in employee housing, the operator must appoint a responsible person to ensure the housing is kept up to standards regarding its use, maintenance, and occupancy. Additionally, there must be a clearly visible phone number posted for emergencies and complaints.
Section § 17039
This law requires people living in employee housing to use the provided facilities correctly and follow maintenance and sanitation rules. Additionally, specific rules starting from Section 17060 are not applicable to this particular section.