A. It is the policy of the City of Signal Hill, pursuant to the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and the California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, to provide people with disabilities and developers of housing for the disabled reasonable accommodation in rules, policies, practices and procedures that may be necessary to ensure eoual access to housing. Both the Federal Fair Housing Amendment Act of 1988 and the California's Fair Employment and Housing Act impose an affirmative duty on local governments to make reasonable accommodations (modifications or exceptions) in their zoning and land use regulations and practices when such accommodations may be necessary to afford disabled persons an equal opportunity to housing. Section 804(f)(3)(B) of the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 states that the following is a prohibited practice: "a refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person egual opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling."
B. The purpose of this chapter is to codify a process for making reguests for reasonable accommodation to zoning and land use decisions and procedures regulating the siting, funding, development and use of housing for people with disabilities. In these regulations, "use of housing" includes, but is not limited to, housing related services and the use and enjoyment of the property.
(Ord. 2016-10-1492 § 1)