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Farmworker Housing Ordinance

On September 14, 2010 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the Farmworker Housing Ordinance. The Farmworker Housing Ordinance, which is a program in the Los Angeles County Housing Element, brings the County’s provisions for farmworker housing into compliance with the Employee Housing Act (Sections 17000-17062.5 of the California Health and Safety Code).

Background Documents:

• Board Hearing Packet dated August 26, 2009 (PDF)
• RPC Memo dated July 16, 2009 (PDF)
  • Attachment 1 - Revised Draft Farmworker Housing Ordinance (PDF)
  • Attachment 2 - Revised Draft Farmworker Housing Ordinance Background Report (PDF)
  • Attachment 3 - Email Correspondence from Laura Blank (PDF)
  • Attachment 4 - Summary of the Meeting with the Los Angeles County Farm Bureau (PDF)
  • Attachment 5 - Draft Initial Study and Negative Declaration (PDF)
  • Attachment 6 - Letter from the Department of Parks and Recreation (PDF)
  • Attachment 7 - Letter from Fire Department (PDF)
  • Attachment 8 – Draft Resolution (PDF)
• RPC Memo dated June 11, 2009 (PDF)
• Staff Report - Draft Farmworker Housing Ordinance (PDF)
  • Attachment A - Employee Housing Act (Health and Safety Code Sections 17000-17062.5) (PDF)
  • Attachment B - Draft Farmworker Housing Ordinance; April 22, 2009 (PDF)
  • Attachment C - Draft Background Report; May 11, 2009 (PDF)
  • Attachment D - Draft Initial Study and Negative Declaration; April 22, 2009 (PDF)
  • Attachment E - Draft Farmworker Housing Ordinance; Revised, May 13, 2009 (PDF)
  • Attachment F - Draft Initial Study and Negative Declaration; Revised, May 13, 2009 (PDF)
  • Attachment G - Draft Resolution (PDF)

Background Information:

The State of California considers the availability of safe and decent housing for farmworkers and their families an issue of Statewide importance.

The Farmworker Housing Ordinance ensures that the County’s provisions for farmworker housing meet the requirements of the Employee Housing Act (Sections 17000-17062.5 of the Health and Safety Code).

State Law

• Sections 51220-51222 of the Government Code identify farmworkers as the lowest average wage earners in the State, and acknowledge efforts to address the need for farmworker housing as part of the effort to preserve agricultural land as an important public interest.

• For the purposes of zoning and land use, Section 17021.5 of the Health and Safety Code considers farmworker housing for five, but no more than six farmworkers as a single-family structure and as a residential land use. In addition, Section 17021.6 considers farmworker housing consisting of no more than 36 beds in group living quarters or 12 units or spaces for farmworkers and their households as an agricultural land use.

Community Outreach Meetings

Regional Planning staff held two community outreach meetings to obtain input from major stakeholders and gain a better understanding of the issues and challenges that farmworkers face in obtaining safe and affordable housing in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

• Community Meeting Flyer in English and Español
• Community Meeting Presentation

Surveys

In July 2008, Regional Planning staff reached out to owners of active agricultural land in unincorporated Los Angeles County through the distribution of a survey. The surveys provided information on active agricultural uses and the housing need associated with these uses.

• Agricultural Production and Farm Labor Survey

Regional Planning staff also compiled a survey for farmworkers living and/or working in unincorporated Los Angeles County.

Farmworkers/Trabajadores de Campo:

• Farmworker Housing Needs Survey
• Cuestionario Relacionado a las Necesidades de Vivienda de Trabajadores de Campo