Homeless Facilities
San Diego Municipal Code § 141.0412
in effect§141.0412 Homeless Facilities
(a) Section 141.0412 applies to the following homeless facilities.
(1) Congregate meal facilities: Any facility that provides scheduled meals on a daily basis for individuals or families who are homeless or low income or very low income, as defined in Section 113.0103.
(2) Homeless day centers: Any facility that provides basic services, including personal hygiene, information and referral, employment, mail, and telephone services, during daylight hours to homeless persons.
(b) Congregate Meal Facilities
Congregate meal facilities may be permitted with a Conditional Use Permit decided in accordance with Process Four in the zones indicated with a “C” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations.
(1) No more than one congregate meal facility may be permitted within 1/4 mile of an emergency shelter, a homeless day center, or another congregate meal facility, measured from property line to property line in accordance with Section 113.0225.
(2) Overnight accommodations are not permitted.
(3) Drive-up or drive-through service is not permitted.
(4) Live entertainment is not permitted.
(5) Distribution or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises is not permitted.
(6) The facility shall provide a waiting area for clients to prevent queuing into the public right-of-way. The size of the waiting area shall be at least 5 square feet per client, based on the maximum number of clients the facility can accommodate according to Fire Department standards. Any outdoor waiting area shall be physically separated from the public right-of-way.
(7) The facility shall provide off-street parking at a rate of 1 space per full-time-equivalent employee, calculated at 8 hours of working time per employee per 24-hour period.
(8) Hours of operation shall be limited to the hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
(9) All activities associated with the facility, including the serving of food and beverages, shall occur within an enclosed building.
(10) The applicant shall submit the following materials to the decision maker for consideration:
(A) A communications plan that describes how the provider will communicate with local community, neighborhood, and business organizations, and with adjacent neighbors on a regular basis, and how community issues or concerns will be addressed;
(B) A plan to minimize loitering in the vicinity of the facility; and
(C) A litter control plan to provide for the removal of litter in the vicinity of the facility on a regular basis.
(c) Homeless Day Centers
Homeless day centers may be permitted with a Conditional Use Permit decided in accordance with Process Four in the zones indicated with a “C” in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations.
(1) No more than one homeless day center may be permitted within 1/4 mile of an emergency shelter, a congregate meal facility, or another homeless day center, measured from property line to property line in accordance with Section 113.0225.
(2) Overnight accommodations and meals for transients are not permitted.
(3) The center shall provide off-street parking at a rate of at least 1 space per full-time-equivalent employee, calculated at 8 hours of working time per employee per 24-hour period.
(4) Hours of operation shall be limited to 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(5) The center shall provide on-site supervision at all times. At least one staff member shall be located on the premises 24 hours per day.
(6) The applicant shall submit the following materials to the decision maker for consideration:
(A) A communications plan that describes how the provider will communicate with local community, neighborhood, and business organizations, and with adjacent neighbors on a regular basis, and how community issues or concerns will be addressed;
(B) A plan to minimize loitering in the vicinity of the facility; and
(C) A litter control plan to provide for the removal of litter in the vicinity of the facility on a regular basis.
(Amended 7-31-2001 by O-18965 N.S.; effective outside the Coastal Overlay Zone on 8-30-2001; effective within the Coastal Overlay Zone on 12-12-2001.) (Amended 4-8-2008 by O-19734 N.S; effective 5-8-2008.) (Amended 8-4-2016 by O-20704 N.S.; effective 8-27-2016.) (Amended 6-15-2026 by O-22109 N.S.; effective 7-15-2026.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-22109 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-22109-SO.pdf ]
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter14/Ch14Art01Division04.pdf#page=15Fetched: 10/28/2026