Existing law requires the covenants, conditions, and restrictions or other documents or written policy of a senior citizen housing development to set forth the limitations on occupancy, residency, or use on the basis of age. Existing law requires that the limitations on age require, at a minimum, that the persons commencing any occupancy of a dwelling unit include a senior citizen who intends to reside in the unit as their primary residence on a permanent basis. Existing law defines “senior citizen housing development” for these purposes as a residential development for senior citizens that has at least 35 dwelling units. Existing law defines “qualifying resident” or “senior citizen” to mean a person 62 years of age or older, or 55 years of age or older in a senior citizen housing development.

The bill would add Civil Code Section 51.3.5 to permit the establishment of an intergenerational housing development if (1) at least 80 percent of the occupied dwelling units are occupied by at least one senior citizen, as specified, and up to 20 percent of the occupied dwelling units are occupied by at least one caregiver or transition age youth, as defined, and (2) the development is an affordable rental housing development, as defined, and has received an allocation of low-income housing tax credits from the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.

This bill would prohibit a housing facility or community from evicting or terminating the lease of a family with children in order to comply with the requirement that at least 80 percent of the occupied units be occupied by at least one senior citizen.

**UPDATE:  SB 591 was signed by the Governor on September 28, 2021.  Its changes to the law take effect January 1, 2022.