Standards for emergency sleeping cabins.
San José Municipal Code § 5.09.410
in effect5.09.410 - Standards for emergency sleeping cabins.
A. General. Emergency Sleeping Cabins shall contain no plumbing or gas service and shall have an interior floor area of not less than 70 square feet (6.5 m 2 ) for one occupant. Where more than one person occupies the cabin, the required floor area shall be increased at the rate of 50 square feet (4.65 m 2 ) for each occupant in excess of one. The interior floor area shall not exceed 400 square feet (37 m 2 ).
B. Live loads. Emergency Sleeping Cabins shall be designed to resist intrusion of wind, rain, and to support the following live loads:
1. Floor live loads not less than 40 pounds per square foot (1.92 kPa) of floor area.
2. Horizontal live loads not less than 15 pounds per square foot (718 Pa) of vertical wall and roof area.
3. Roof live loads not less than 20 pounds per square foot (958 Pa) of horizontal roof area.
C. Minimum ceiling height. Habitable space and hallways in Emergency Sleeping Cabins shall have a ceiling height of not less than 80 inches (2032 mm). Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and kitchens, if provided, shall have a ceiling height of not less than 76 inches (1930 mm). Obstructions shall not extend below these minimum ceiling heights including beams, girders, ducts, lighting and other obstructions.
D. Means of egress. Emergency Sleeping Cabins shall be provided with at least two forms of egress placed remotely from each other. One form of egress may be an egress window complying with subsection E, Egress window, below.
E. Egress window. The bottom of the clear opening of the egress window shall not be more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the floor. The egress window shall have a minimum net clear opening height of 24 inches (610 mm), and a minimum net clear opening width of 20 inches (508 mm). The egress window shall have a minimum net clear opening area of 5 square feet (0.465 m 2 ).
F. Electrical. Emergency Sleeping Cabins shall be provided with all of the following installed in compliance with the California Electrical Code:
1. Continuous source of electricity.
Exception: The source of electricity may be solar power, other renewable energy or emergency generator(s).
2. At least one interior lighting fixture.
3. Electrical heating equipment listed for residential use and a dedicated power source for the electrical heating equipment.
4. At least one GFCI-protected receptacle outlet for use by the occupant(s).
G. Ventilation. Emergency Sleeping Cabins shall be provided with means of ventilation (natural and/or mechanical) allowing for adequate air replacement, as determined by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
H. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms. Emergency Sleeping Cabins shall be provided with at least one smoke alarm installed in accordance with the California Residential Code, Section R314 and one carbon monoxide alarm installed in accordance with the California Residential Code, Section R315. A single dual function alarm will meet this requirement.
I. Privacy Lock. Each Emergency Sleeping Cabin shall have a privacy lock on each entrance door and all windows.
(Ord. 30199.)
Source: City of San José, Municipal Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT5HO_CH5.09EMBRHO_PT4DEST_5.09.410STEMSLCAFetched: 11/1/2026