California Code of Regulations
Title 4 - Business Regulations
Division 17 - California Tax Credit Allocation Committee Regulations Implementing the Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Laws
Chapter 1 - Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
Section 10325 - Application Selection Criteria - Credit Ceiling Applications

Universal Citation: 4 CA Code of Regs 10325

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) General. All applications not requesting Federal Tax Credits under the requirements of IRC Section 42(h)(4)(b) and Section 10326 of these Regulations (for buildings financed by tax-exempt bonds) shall compete for reservations of Credit Ceiling amounts during designated reservation cycles. Further, no project that has a pending application for a private activity bond allocation or that has previously received a private activity bond allocation will be eligible to compete under the Credit Ceiling competition for Federal Tax Credits.

(b) Authority. Selection criteria shall include those required by IRC Section 42(m), H & S Code Section 50199.14, and R & T Code Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5.

(c) Credit Ceiling application competitions. Applications received in a reservation cycle, and competing for Federal and/or State Tax Credits, shall be scored and ranked according to the below-described criteria, except as modified by Section 10317(g) of these regulations. The Committee shall reserve the right to determine, on a case-by-case basis, under the unique circumstances of each funding round, and in consideration of the relative scores and ranking of the proposed projects, that a project's score is too low to warrant a reservation of Tax Credits. All point selection categories shall be met in the application submission through a presentation of conclusive, documented evidence to the Executive Director's satisfaction. Point scores shall be determined solely on the application as submitted, including any additional information submitted in compliance with these regulations. Further, a project's points will be based solely on the current year's scoring criteria and submissions, without respect to any prior year's score for the same projects.

Scattered Site Projects shall be scored proportionately in the site and service amenities category based upon (i) each site's score, and (ii) the percentage of units represented by each site, except that for scattered site projects of less than 20 Low-Income Units, service amenities shall be scored in the aggregate across all sites.

The number of awards received by individuals, entities, affiliates, and related entities is limited to no more than four (4) per competitive round. This limitation is applicable to a project applicant, developer, sponsor, owner, general partner, and to parent companies, principals of entities, and family members. For the purposes of this section, related or non-arm's length relationships are further defined as those having control or joint-control over an entity, having significant influence over an entity, or participating as key management of an entity. Related entity disclosure is required at the time of application. Furthermore, no application submitted by a sponsor may benefit competitively by the withdrawal of another, higher-ranked application submitted by the same sponsor or related parties as described above.

SCORING

(1) General Partner/Management Company Characteristics.

No one general partner, party having any fiduciary responsibilities, or related parties will be awarded more than 15% of the Federal Credit Ceiling, calculated as of February first during any calendar year unless imposing this requirement would prevent allocation of all of the available Credit Ceiling.

(A) General partner experience. To receive points under this subsection for projects in existence for more than three years, a proposed general partner, or a key person within the proposed general partner organization, must meet the following conditions:
(i) For projects in operation for more than three years, submit a certification from a third party certified public accountant that the projects for which it is requesting points have maintained a positive operating cash flow, from typical residential income alone (e.g. rents, rental subsidies, late fees, forfeited deposits, etc.) for the year in which each development's last financial statement has been prepared and have funded reserves in accordance with the partnership agreement and any applicable loan documents. To obtain points for projects previously owned by the proposed general partner, a similar certification must be submitted with respect to the last full year of ownership by the proposed general partner, along with verification of the number of years that the project was owned by that general partner. To obtain points for projects previously owned, the ending date of ownership or participation must be no more than 10 years from the application deadline. This certification must list the specific projects for which the points are being requested. The certification of the third party certified public accountant may be in the form of an agreed upon procedure report that includes funded reserves as of the report date, which shall be dated within 60 days of the application deadline, unless the general partner or key person has no current projects which are eligible for points in which case the report date shall be after the date from which the general partner or key person separated from the last eligible project. If the certification is prepared for a first-round application utilizing prepared financial statements of the previous calendar year, the certification may be submitted in a second round application, exceeding the 60 day requirement above. Where there is more than one general partner, experience points may not be aggregated; rather, points will be awarded based on the highest points for which 1 general partner is eligible.

Three to four projects in service more than three years, of which one shall be in service more than five years and two shall be California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects5 points
Five or more projects in service more than three years, of which one shall be in service more than five years and two shall be California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects7 points
For special needs housing type projects only applying through the Nonprofit set-aside or Special Needs set-aside only, points are available as described above or as follows:
Three Special Needs projects in service more than three years and one California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project which may or may not be one of the three special needs projects5 points
Four or more Special Needs projects in service more than three years and one California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project which may or may not be one of the four special needs projects7 points

(ii) General partners with fewer than two (2) active California Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects in service more than three years, and general partners for projects applying through the Nonprofit or Special Needs set-aside with no active California Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects in service more than three years, shall contract with a bona-fide management company currently managing two (2) California Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects in service more than three years and which itself earns a minimum total of two (2) points at the time of application.

(iii) Tribal applicants may contract with a developer who will not be a general partner and receive points commensurate with the developer's experience pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii). The contract shall be in effect at least until the issuance of 8609 tax forms. Tribal applicants exercising this option, including the option in the next paragraph, shall also contract for asset management for at least the term of the 15-year federal compliance period with an entity that has asset managed at least two Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects for more than three years.

For purposes of this clause only, a developer may include an entity pre-approved by CTCAC that has developed but not owned the requisite number of projects described in (i) and that provides the certification from a third party certified public accountant described above for the projects for which experience points are requested. If the projects for which the entity requests experience points do not include two (2) active California Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects in service more than three years, the applicant shall contract with a bona-fide management company pursuant to clause (ii). For this purpose only, "develop" shall mean developing the project scope and timeline, securing financing, hiring or performing the services of a general contractor, and overseeing completion of construction and placement in service as well as asset managing the project for at least three years after placed in service. When seeking pre-approval the entity shall provide copies of contracts demonstrating that the standards have been met.

In applying for and receiving points in this category, applicants assure that the property shall be operated by a general partner in conformance with Section 10320(b).

(B) Management Company experience. To receive points under this subsection, the property management company must meet the following conditions. To obtain points for projects previously managed, the ending date of the property management role must be no more than 10 years from the application deadline. In addition, the property management experience with a project shall not pre-date the project's placed-in-service date.

(i) Six to 10 projects managed more than three years, of which two shall be California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects2 points
11 or more projects managed more than three years, of which two shall be California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects3 points
For special needs housing type projects only applying through the Nonprofit set-aside or Special Needs set-aside only, points are available as described above or as follows:
Two to three Special Needs projects managed more than three years and one California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project which may or may not be one of the special needs projects2 points
Four or more Special Needs projects managed more than three years and one California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project which may or may not be one of the special needs projects3 points
(ii) Management companies managing less than two (2) active California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects for more than three years, and management companies for projects requesting points under the special needs categories of subparagraph (i) above and managing no active California Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects for more than three years, shall contract with a bona-fide management company currently managing two (2) California Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects for more than three years and which itself earns a minimum combined total of two (2) points at the time of application.

When contracting with a California-experienced property management company under the terms of paragraph (A)(ii) or (B)(ii) above, the general partner or property co-management entity must obtain training in: CTCAC ownership/management, project operations, on-site certification training in federal fair housing law, and manager certification in IRS Section 42 program requirements from a CTCAC-approved, nationally recognized entity. Additionally, the experienced property management agent or an equally experienced substitute must remain for a period of at least three years from the placed-in-service date (or, for ownership transfers, three years from the sale or transfer date) to allow for at least one (1) CTCAC monitoring visit to ensure the project is in compliance with IRC Section 42. Thereafter, the experienced property manager may transfer responsibilities to the remaining general partner or property management firm following formal written approval from CTCAC. In applying for and receiving points in these categories, applicants assure that the property shall be owned and managed by entities with equivalent experience scores for the entire 15-year federal compliance and extended use period, pursuant to Section 10320(b). The experience must include at least two (2) Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects in California in service more than three years.

Points in subsections (A) and (B) above will be awarded in the highest applicable category and are not cumulative. For points to be awarded in subsection (B), an enforceable management agreement executed by both parties for the subject application must be submitted at the time of application. "Projects" as used in subsections (A) and (B) means multifamily rental affordable developments of over 10 affordable units that are subject to a recorded regulatory agreement, or, in the case of housing on tribal lands, where federal HUD funds have been utilized in affordable rental developments. General Partner and Management Company experience points may be given based on the experience of the principals involved, or on the experience of municipalities or other nonprofit entities that have experience but have formed single-asset entities for each project in which they have participated, notwithstanding that the entity itself would not otherwise be eligible for such points. For qualifying experience, "principal" is defined as an individual overseeing the day-to-day operations of affordable rental projects as senior management personnel of the General Partner or property management company.

(2) Negative points. Negative points, up to a total of 10 for each project and/or each violation, may be given at the Executive Director's discretion for general partners, co-developers, management agents, consultants, guarantors, or any member or agent of the Development Team as described in Section 10322(h)(5). Notwithstanding the foregoing and (B) below, failure to meet the requirements of Section 10325(c)(7) shall result in rescission of the Tax Credit Reservation or negative points. Negative points may be assessed for items including, but not limited to:
(A) failure to utilize committed public subsidies identified in an application, unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Executive Director that the circumstances were entirely outside of the applicant's control.

(B) failure to utilize Tax Credits within program time guidelines unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Executive Director that the circumstances were entirely outside of the applicant's control;

(C) failure to submit the placed-in-service application by the deadline required in Section 10322(i);

(D) removal or withdrawal under threat of removal as general partner from a housing tax credit partnership;

(E) failure to provide physical amenities or services or any other item for which points were obtained (unless funding for a specific services program promised is no longer available);

(F) failure to correct serious noncompliance after notice and cure period within an existing housing tax credit project in California;

(G) serious, after a notice and cure period, or repeated failure to submit required compliance documentation for a housing Tax Credit project located anywhere;

(H) failure to perform a tenant income recertification upon the first anniversary following the initial move-in certification for all one-hundred percent (100%) tax credit properties, or failure to conduct ongoing annual income certifications in properties with non-tax-credit units;

(I) material misrepresentation of any fact or requirement in an application;

(J) failure of a building to continuously meet the terms, conditions, and requirements received at its certification as being suitable for occupancy in compliance with state or local law, unless it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Executive Director that the circumstances were entirely outside the control of the owner;

(K) failure to submit a copy of the owner's completed 8609 showing the first year filing;

(L) failure to promptly notify CTCAC of a property management change or changing to a management company of lesser experience contrary to Section 10325(c)(1)(B);

(M) failure to properly notify CTCAC and obtain prior approval of Transfer Events, general partner changes, transfer of a Tax Credit project, or allocation of the Federal or State Credit;

(N) certification of site amenities, distances or service amenities that were, in the Executive Director's sole discretion, inaccurate or misleading;

(O) falsifying documentation of household income or any other materials to fraudulently represent compliance with IRC Section 42; or

(P) failure of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded projects to comply with Section 42, CTCAC regulations, or other applicable program requirements;

(Q) failure to provide required documentation of third-party verification of sustainable and energy efficient features.

(R) failure to correct serious noncompliance, including incorrect rents or income qualification, incorrect utility allowance, or other overcharging of residents. In assigning negative points, CTCAC shall consider the most recent monitoring results for each of the parties' projects in the most recent three-year monitoring cycle. CTCAC shall allow affected parties a reasonable period to correct serious noncompliance before assigning negative points. Negative points may be warranted when more than ten percent (10%) of the party's total portfolio has Level 3 deficiencies under the Uniform Physical Conditions Standards established by HUD. In addition, negative points may be warranted when more than ten percent (10%) of the tenant files most recently monitored resulted in findings of either household income above regulated income limits upon initial occupancy, or findings of gross rent exceeding the tax credit maximum limits.

(S) the project's total eligible basis at placed in service exceeding the revised total adjusted threshold basis limits for the year the project is placed in service by 40%.

(T) where CDLAC has determined that a person or entity is subject to negative points under its regulations, CTCAC will deduct an equal amount of points for an equal period of time from tax credit applications involving that person or entity or a Related Party.

(U) failure to comply with a requirement of the regulatory agreement or of a covenant entered into 10320(b)(2)(B) or Section 10337(a)(3)(B).

Negative points given to general partners, co-developers, management agents, consultants, or any other member or agent of the Development Team may remain in effect for up to two calendar years, but in no event will they be in effect for less than one funding round. Furthermore, they may be assigned to one or more Development Team members, but do not necessarily apply to the entire Team. Negative points assigned by the Executive Director may be appealed to the Committee under appeal procedures enumerated in Section 10330.

(V) Submitting a check which CTCAC, after reasonable efforts to correct, cannot deposit.

Negative points given to general partners, co-developers, management agents, consultants, or any other member or agent of the Development Team may remain in effect for up to two calendar years, but in no event will they be in effect for less than one funding round. Furthermore, they may be assigned to one or more Development Team members, but do not necessarily apply to the entire Team. Negative points assigned by the Executive Director may be appealed to the Committee under appeal procedures enumerated in Section 10330.

(3) Housing Needs. (Points will be awarded only in one category listed below except that acquisition and/or rehabilitation Scattered Site Projects may, at the applicant's election, be scored either in the aggregate or proportionately based upon (i) each site's score, and (ii) the percentage of units represented by each site.) The category selected hereunder (which shall be the category represented by the highest percentage of Low-Income Units in a proportionally scored project) shall also be the project category for purposes of the tiebreaker described in subsection 10325(c)(9) below.

Large Family Projects10 points
Special Needs Projects10 points
Seniors Projects10 points
At-Risk Projects10 points
SRO Projects10 points

(4) Amenities beyond those required as additional thresholds
(A) Site Amenities: Site amenities must be appropriate to the tenant population served. To receive points the amenity must be in place at the time of application except as specified in paragraphs 1, 5, and 8 below. In addition, an amenity to be operated by a public entity that is (i) being constructed within the project as part of the tax credit development, (ii) is receiving development funding for the amenity from the public entity, and (iii) has a proposed operations budget from the operating public entity, would be considered "in place" at the time of application. Distances must be measured using a standardized radius from the development site to the target amenity, unless that line crosses a significant physical barrier or barriers. Such barriers include highways, railroad tracks, regional parks, golf courses, or any other feature that significantly disrupts the pedestrian walking pattern between the development site and the amenity. The radius line may be struck from the corner of development site nearest the target amenity, to the nearest corner of the target amenity site. However, a radius line shall not be struck from the end of an entry drive or on-site access road that extends from the central portion of the site itself by 250 feet or more. Rather, the line shall be struck from the nearest corner of the site's central portion. Where an amenity such as a grocery store resides within a larger shopping complex or commercial strip, the radius line must be measured to the amenity exterior wall, rather than the site boundary. The resulting distance shall be reduced in such instances by 250 feet to account for close-in parking.

No more than 15 points will be awarded in this category. For purposes of the Native American apportionment only, no points will be awarded in this category. However, projects that apply under the Native American apportionment that drop down to the rural set-aside will be scored in this category. Applicants must certify to the accuracy of their submissions and will be subject to negative points in the round in which an application is considered, as well as subsequent rounds, if the information submitted is found to be inaccurate. For each amenity, color photographs, a contact person and a contact telephone must be included in the application. The Committee may employ third parties to verify distances or may have staff verify them. Only one point award will be available in each of the subcategories (1-9) listed below, with exception of the transit pass option of subcategory 1. Amenities may include:

1. Transit Amenities

The project is located where there is a bus rapid transit station, light rail station, commuter rail station, ferry terminal, bus station, or public bus stop within 1/3 mile from the site with service at least every 30 minutes (or at least two departures during each peak period for a commuter rail station or ferry terminal) during the hours of 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the project's density will exceed 25 units per acre.7 points
The site is within 1/3 mile of a bus rapid transit station, light rail station, commuter rail station, ferry terminal, bus station, or public bus stop with service at least every 30 minutes (or at least two departures during each peak period for a commuter rail station or ferry terminal) during the hours of 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.6 points
The site is within 1/2 mile of a bus rapid transit station, light rail station, commuter rail station, ferry terminal, bus station, or public bus stop with service at least every 30 minutes (or at least two departures during each peak period for a commuter rail station or ferry terminal) during the hours of 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.5 points
The site is located within 1/3 mile of a bus rapid transit station, light rail station, commuter rail station, ferry terminal, bus station, or public bus stop. (For Rural set-aside projects, full points may be awarded where van or dial-a-ride service is provided to tenants, if costs of obtaining and maintaining the van and its service are included in the budget and the operating schedule is either on demand by tenants or a regular schedule is provided)4 points
The site is located within 1/2 mile of a bus rapid transit station, light rail station, commuter rail station, ferry terminal, bus station, or public bus stop.3 points

In addition to meeting one of the point categories described above, the applicant commits to provide to residents free transit passes or discounted passes priced at no more than half of retail cost. Passes shall be made available to each Low-Income Unit at the time a Low-Income Unit is leased to the tenant and shall be made available for at least 15 years. These points are not available for projects with van service. These points are only available to Rural set-aside projects with dial-a-ride service for free or discounted dial-a-ride passes.

At least one pass per Low-Income Unit3 points
At least one pass per each 2 Low-Income Units2 points

"Light rail station" or "commuter rail station" or "ferry terminal" includes a planned rail station or ferry terminal whose construction is programmed into a Regional or State Transportation Improvement Program to be completed within one year of the scheduled completion and occupancy of the proposed residential development.

A private bus or transit system providing service to residents may be substituted for a public system if it (a) meets the relevant headway and distance criteria, and (b) if service is provided free to the residents. Such private systems must receive approval from the CTCAC Executive Director prior to the application deadline. Multiple bus lines may be aggregated for the above points, only if multiple lines from the designated stop travel to an employment center. Such aggregation must be demonstrated to, and receive prior approval from, the CTCAC Executive Director in order to receive competitive points.

2. The site is within 1/2 mile of a public park or a community center accessible to the general public (1 mile for Rural set-aside projects). A public park shall not include 1) school grounds unless there is a bona fide, formal joint use agreement between the jurisdiction responsible for the parks/recreational facilities and the school district or private school providing availability to the general public of the school grounds and/or facilities, 2) greenbelts or pocket parks, or 3) open space preserves or biking parkways unless there is a trailhead or designated access point within the specified distance3 points
or within 3/4 mile (1.5 miles for Rural set-aside projects)2 points
3. The site is within 1/2 mile of a book-lending public library that also allows for inter-branch lending (when in a multi-branch system) (1 mile for Rural set-aside projects)3 points
or within 1 mile (2 miles for Rural set-aside projects)2 points
4. The site is within 1/2 mile of a full-scale grocery store/supermarket of at least 25,000 gross interior square feet where staples, fresh meat, and fresh produce are sold (1 mile for Rural set-aside projects) A large multipurpose store containing a grocery section may garner these points if the application contains the requisite interior measurements of the grocery section of that multipurpose store. The "grocery section" of a large multipurpose store is defined as the portion of the store that sells fresh meat, produce, dairy, baked goods, packaged food products, delicatessen, canned goods, baby foods, frozen foods, sundries, and beverages.5 points
or within 1 mile (2 miles for Rural set-aside projects)4 points
or within 1.5 miles (3 miles for Rural set-aside projects)3 points
The site is within 1/4 mile of a neighborhood market of 5,000 gross interior square feet or more where staples, fresh meat, and fresh produce are sold ( 1/2 mile for Rural Set-aside projects) A large multi-purpose store containing a grocery portion may garner these points if the application contains interior measurements of the grocery section of that multi-purpose store. The "grocery section" of a large multipurpose store is defined as the portion of the store primarily devoted to food stuffs that sells fresh meat, produce, dairy, baked goods, packaged food products, delicatessen, canned goods, baby foods, frozen foods, sundries, and beverages.4 points
or within 1/2 mile (1 mile for Rural Set-aside projects)3 points
The site is within 1/2 mile of a weekly farmers' market on the list of Certified Farmers' Markets maintained by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and operating at least 5 months in a calendar year 2 points or within 1 mile1 point
5. The site is within (1) mile of adult education campus of a school district, or community college (an additional 1/2 mile for Rural set-aside projects)3 points
For a development wherein at least 25 percent (25%) of the Low-Income Units (or, for Special Needs housing type, at least 25% of the Large Family Low-Income Units) shall be three-bedroom or larger units, the site is within 1/4 mile of a public elementary school; 1/2 mile of a public middle school; or one (1) mile of a public high school, (an additional 1/2 mile for each public school type for Rural set-aside projects) and that the site is within the attendance area of that school or campus.3 points
or within an additional 1/2 mile for each public-school type (an additional 1 mile for Rural set-aside projects)2 points
Public schools demonstrated, at the time of application, to be under construction and to be completed and available to the residents prior to the housing development completion are considered in place at the time of application for purposes of this scoring factor.
6. For a Senior Development, the site is within 1/2 mile of a daily operated senior center or a facility offering daily services specifically designed for seniors (not on the development site) (1 mile for Rural set-aside projects)3 points
or within 3/4 mile (1.5 miles for Rural set-aside projects)2 points
7. For a Special Needs development, the site is located within 1/2 mile of a facility that operates to serve the population living in the development3 points
or within 1 mile2 points
8. The site is within 1/2 mile (for Rural set-aside projects, 1 mile) of a qualifying medical clinic with a physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner onsite for a minimum of 40 hours each week, or hospital (not merely a private doctor's office). A qualifying medical clinic must accept Medi-Cal payments, or Medicare payments for Senior Projects, or Health Care for the Homeless for projects housing homeless populations, or have an equally comprehensive subsidy program for low-income patients.3 points
The site is within 1 mile (for Rural set-aside projects, 1.5 miles) of a qualifying medical clinic with a physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner onsite for a minimum of 40 hours each week, or hospital2 points

A hospital demonstrated at the time of application to be under construction and to be completed and available to the residents prior to the housing development completion is considered in place at the time of application for purposes of this scoring factor.

9. The site is within 1/2 mile of a pharmacy (for Rural projects, 1 mile)2 points
or within 1 mile (2 miles for Rural projects)1 point
10. High speed internet service, with a minimum average download speed of 25 megabits/second must be made available to each Low-Income Unit for a minimum of 15 years, free of charge to the tenants, and available within 6 months of the project's placed-in-service date. Documentation of internet availability must be included in the application. If internet is selected as an option in the application it must be provided even if it is not needed for points.2 points (3 points for Rural projects)
11. The project is a new construction Large Family housing type project, except for an inclusionary project as defined in Section 10325(c)(9)(C), and the site is located in a census tract, or census block group as applicable, designated on the CTCAC/HCD Opportunity Area Map as Highest or High Resource:8 points

An application for a large family new construction project located in a High or Highest Resource area shall disclose whether or not the project includes any Low-Income Units that satisfy the obligations of an affordable housing ordinance or development agreement with the jurisdiction in which the project will be built and, if so, the number of such units and whether the contractual obligations derive solely from the Low-Income Units themselves.

An applicant may choose to utilize the census tract, or census block group as applicable, resource designation from the CTCAC/HCD Opportunity Maps in effect when the initial site control was obtained up to seven calendar years prior to the application.

(B) Projects that provide high-quality services designed to improve the quality of life for tenants are eligible to receive points for service amenities. Services must be appropriate to meet the needs of the tenant population served and designed to generate positive changes in the lives of tenants, such as by increasing tenant knowledge of and access to available services, helping tenants maintain stability and prevent eviction, building life skills, increasing household income and assets, increasing health and well-being, or improving the educational success of children and youth.

Except as provided below, in order to receive points in this category, physical space for service amenities must be available when the development is placed-in-service. Services space must be located inside the project and provide sufficient square footage, accessibility and privacy to accommodate the proposed services. Evidence that adequate physical space for services will be provided must be documented within the application.

The amenities must be available within six months of the project's placed-in-service date. Applicants must commit that services shall be provided for a period of 15 years.

All services must be of a regular and ongoing nature and provided to tenants free of charge (except for day care services or any charges required by law). Services must be provided on-site except that projects may use off-site services within 1/2 mile of the development (1 1/2 miles for Rural set-aside projects) provided that they have a written agreement with the service provider enabling the development's tenants to use the services free of charge (except for day care and any charges required by law) and that demonstrate that provision of on-site services would be duplicative.

No more than 10 points will be awarded in this category. The number of hours per year for a full time-equivalent (FTE) will be calculated as follows:

1) the number of bedrooms multiplied by 2080 = FTE numerator;

2) FTE numerator divided by base number of bedrooms = number of required hours per year (up to a maximum of 2,080 hours).

For Large Family, Senior, and At-Risk Projects or for the non-Special Needs units in a Special Needs Project with less than 75% Special Needs units, amenities may include, but are not limited to:

1. Service Coordinator. Responsibilities must include, but are not limited to:
(a) providing tenants with information about available services in the community,

(b) assisting tenants to access services through referral and advocacy, and

(c) organizing community-building and/or other enrichment activities for tenants (such as holiday events, tenant council, etc.).

Minimum ratio of one Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Service Coordinator to 600 bedrooms.5 points

2. Other Services Specialist. Must provide individualized assistance, counseling and/or advocacy to tenants, such as to assist them to access education, secure employment, secure benefits, gain skills or improve health and wellness. Includes, but is not limited to: Vocational/Employment Counselor, ADL or Supported Living Specialist, Substance Abuse or Mental Health Counselor, Peer Counselor, Domestic Violence Counselor.

Minimum ratio of one FTE Services Specialist to 600 bedrooms.5 points

3. Instructor-led adult educational, health and wellness, or skill building classes. Includes, but is not limited to: Financial literacy, computer training, home-buyer education, GED classes, and resume building classes, ESL, nutrition class, exercise class, health information/awareness, art class, parenting class, on-site food cultivation and preparation classes, and smoking cessation classes. Drop-in computer labs, monitoring or technical assistance shall not qualify.

84 hours of instruction per year (42 for small developments)7 points
60 hours of instruction per year (30 for small developments)5 points

4. Health and wellness services and programs. Such services and programs shall provide individualized support to tenants (not group classes) and need not be provided by licensed individuals or organizations. Includes, but is not limited to visiting nurses programs, intergenerational visiting programs, or senior companion programs. The application must describe in detail the services to be provided.

100 hours of services per year for each 100 bedrooms5 points
60 hours of services per year for each 100 bedrooms3 points
5. Licensed childcare. Shall be available 20 hours or more per week, Monday through Friday, to residents of the development. (Only for large family projects or other projects in which at least 25% of Low-Income Units are three bedrooms or larger).5 points

6. After school program for school age children. Includes, but is not limited to tutoring, mentoring, homework club, art and recreational activities. (Only for large family projects or other projects in which at least 25% of Low-Income Units are three bedrooms or larger).

10 hours per week, offered weekdays throughout school year5 points
6 hours per week, offered weekdays throughout school year3 points

For Special Needs Projects with 75% or more Special Needs units, for the Special Needs units in a Special Needs Project with less than 75% Special Needs units, or SRO Projects, amenities may include, but are not limited to:

7. Case Manager. Responsibilities must include (but are not limited to) working with tenants to develop and implement an individualized service plan, goal plan or independent living plan.

Ratio of one FTE case manager to 100 bedrooms5 points

8. Service Coordinator or Other Services Specialist. Service coordinator responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to:
(a) providing tenants with information about available services in the community,

(b) assisting tenants to access services through referral and advocacy, and

(c) organizing community-building and/or other enrichment activities for tenants (such as holiday events, tenant council, etc.). Other services specialist must provide individualized assistance, counseling and/or advocacy to tenants, such as to assist them to access education, secure employment, secure benefits, gain skills or improve health and wellness. Includes, but is not limited to: Vocational/Employment Counselor, ADL or Supported Living Specialist, Substance Abuse or Mental Health Counselor, Peer Counselor, Domestic Violence Counselor.

Ratio of one FTE service coordinator or specialist to 360 bedrooms5 points

9. Adult educational, health and wellness, or skill building classes. Includes, but is not limited to: Financial literacy, computer training, home-buyer education, GED classes, and resume building classes, ESL, nutrition class, exercise class, health information/awareness, art class, parenting class, on-site food cultivation and preparation classes, and smoking cessation classes.

84 hours of instruction per year (42 for small developments)5 points
10. Health or behavioral health services provided by appropriately-licensed organization or individual. Includes but is not limited to: health clinic, adult day health center, medication management services, mental health services and treatment, substance abuse services and treatment.5 points
11. Licensed childcare. Shall be available 20 hours or more per week, Monday through Friday, to residents of the development. (Only for large family projects or other projects in which at least 25% of Low-Income Units are three bedrooms or larger).5 points

12. After school program for school age children. Includes, but is not limited to tutoring, mentoring, homework club, art and recreational activities. (Only for large family projects or other projects in which at least 25% of Low-Income Units are three bedrooms or larger).

10 hours per week, offered weekdays throughout school year5 points

Special needs projects with less than 75% special needs units shall be scored proportionately in the service amenity category based upon (i) the services provided to special needs and non-special needs units, respectively; and (ii) the percentage of units represented by special needs and non-special needs units, respectively. Proportionate scoring means for a project to score the maximum 10 points, nonspecial needs units and special needs units must independently score 10 points for service amenities. For special needs projects with less than 75% special needs units that provide the same service amenity for the special needs and non-special needs tenants, the applicant must select the amenity from 1-6 and from 7-12 in the application form. Special needs projects with 75% or more but less than 100% special needs units shall demonstrate that all tenants will receive an appropriate level of services.

Items 1 through 12 are mutually exclusive: one proposed service may not receive points under two different categories, except in the case of proportionately-scored scored services pursuant to the previous paragraph.

Documentation must be provided for each category of services for which the applicant is claiming service amenities points and must state the name and address of the organization or entity that will provide the services; describe the services to be provided and the number of hours services will be provided; and name the project to which the services are being committed.

Documentation shall take the form of a contract for services, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or commitment letter on agency letterhead.

For projects claiming points for items 1, 2, 7, or 8, a position description must be provided. Services delivered by the on-site Property Manager or other property management staff will not be eligible for points under any category (items 1 through 12).

The application's Service Amenity Sources and Uses Budget page must clearly describe all anticipated income and expenses associated with the services program(s) and must align with the services commitments provided (i.e. contracts, MOUs, letters, etc.). Applications shall receive points for services only if the proposed services budget adequately accounts for the level of service. The budgeted amount must be reasonably expected to cover the costs of the proposed level of service. If project operating income will fund service amenities, the application's Service Amenities Sources and Uses Budget must be consistent with the application's fifteen year pro forma. Services costs contained in the project's pro forma operating budget do not count towards meeting CTCAC's minimum operating expenses required by Section 10327(g)(1).

All organizations providing services for which the project is claiming points must document that they have at least 24 months of experience providing services to the project's target population. Experience of individuals may not be substituted for organizational experience.

(5) Reserved

(6) Lowest Income in accordance with the table below Maximum 52 points
(A) The "Percent of Area Median Income" category may be used only once. For instance, 50% of Low-Income Units at 50% of Area Median Income cannot be used twice for 100% at 50% and receive 50 points, nor can 50% of Low-Income Units at 50% of Area Median Income for 25 points and 40% of Low-Income Units at 50% of Area Median Income be used for an additional 20 points. However, the "Percent of Low-Income Units" may be used multiple times. For example, 50% of Low-Income Units at 50% of Area Median Income for 25 points may be combined with another 50% of Low-Income Units at 45% of Area Median Income to achieve the maximum points. All projects must score at least 45 points in this category to be eligible for 9% Tax Credits.

Only projects competing in the Rural set aside may use the 55% of Area Median Income column.

Projects electing the average income federal set-aside must choose targeting in 10% increments of Area Median Income (i.e. 20% AMI, 30% AMI, 40% AMI, etc.).

Lowest Income Points Table (maximum 50 points):

Percent of Area Median Income
55%50%45%40%35%30%20%
50% 25.0*37.5
45% 22.5*33.8
Percent of40%10.0*20.030.0
Low-Income35%8.8*17.526.335.0 50.0
Units30%7.5*15.022.530.037.545.0
25%6.3*12.518.825.031.337.550.0
20%5.0*10.015.020.025.030.040.0
15%3.8*7.511.315.018.822.530.0
10%2.5*5.07.510.012.515.020.0

*Available to Rural set-aside projects only

(B) A project that agrees to have at least ten percent (10%) of its Low-Income Units available for tenants with incomes no greater than thirty percent (30%) of area median, and to restrict the rents on those units accordingly, will receive two points in addition to other points received under this subsection. The 30% units must be spread across the various bedroom-count units, starting with the largest bedroom-count units (e.g. four bedroom units), and working down to the smaller bedroom-count units, assuring that at least 10% of the larger units are proposed at 30% of area median income. So long as the applicant meets the 10% standard project-wide, the 10% standard need not be met among all of the smaller units. The CTCAC Executive director may correct applicant errors in carrying out this largest-to-smallest unit protocol. (These points may be obtained by using the 30% section of the matrix.)

All projects, except those applying under section 10326 of these regulations, will be subject to the minimum low income percentages chosen for a period of 55 years (50 years for projects located on tribal trust land), unless they receive Federal Tax Credits only and are intended for eventual tenant homeownership, in which case they must submit, at application, evidence of a financially feasible program, incorporating, among other items, an exit strategy, home ownership counseling, funds to be set aside to assist tenants in the purchase of units, and a plan for conversion of the facility to home ownership at the end of the initial 15 year compliance period. In such a case, the regulatory agreement will contain provisions for the enforcement of such covenants.

(7) Readiness to Proceed. 10 points will be available to projects that document enforceable financing commitment(s) as defined in Section 10325(f)(3) for all construction financing and demonstrate construction can commence within 180 days or 194 days of the Credit Reservation as assigned by the Executive Director and documented by the requirements below.

No later than the assigned deadline, CTCAC must receive:

(A) a completed updated application form along with a detailed explanation of any changes from the initial application,

(B) an executed construction contract,

(C) recorded deeds of trust for all construction financing (unless a project's location on tribal trust land precludes this), binding commitments for permanent financing, binding commitments for any other financing required to complete project construction,

(D) a limited partnership agreement executed by the general partner and the investor providing the equity,

(E) an updated CTCAC Attachment 16,

(F) issuance of building permits (a grading permit does not suffice to meet this requirement except that in the event that the city or county as a rule does not issue building permits prior to the completion of grading, a grading permit shall suffice; if the project is a design-build project in which the city or county does not issue building permits until designs are fully complete, the city or county shall have approved construction to begin) or the applicable tribal documents, and

(G) notice to proceed delivered to the contractor.

The Executive Director shall either rescind the Tax Credit Reservation, assess negative points, or both for failure to meet the assigned due date.

If no construction lender is involved, evidence must be submitted no later than the assigned due date, after the Reservation is made that the equity partner has been admitted to the ownership entity, and that an initial disbursement of funds has occurred. CTCAC shall conduct a financial feasibility and cost reasonableness analysis upon receiving submitted Readiness documentation.

In the event of a federally declared emergency by the President of the United States, a state declared emergency by the Governor of the State of California, or similar event determined by the Committee, and at the sole discretion of the Executive Director, extensions may be granted.

(8) Miscellaneous Federal and State Policies Maximum 2 points
(A) Credit Substitution. For applicants who agree to both 1) exchange Federal Tax Credits for State Tax Credits pursuant to Section 10317(e) and 2) exchange State Tax Credits for Federal Tax Credits pursuant to Section 10317(c). 2 points

Applicants receiving these points agree to make the exchange in a manner that yields equal equity based solely on the tax credit factors stated in the application.

(B) Enhanced Accessibility and Visitability. Project design incorporates California Building Code Chapter 11(B) and the principles of Universal Design in at least half of the project's Low-Income Units by including:

* Accessible routes of travel to the dwelling units with accessible 34" minimum clear-opening-width entry, and 34" clear width for all doors on an accessible path.

* Interior doors with lever hardware and 42" minimum width hallways.

* Fully accessible bathrooms complying with California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 11(A) and 11(B). In addition, a 30"x48" clearance parallel to and centered on the bathroom vanity.

* Accessible kitchens with 30"x48" clearance parallel to and centered on the front of all major appliances and fixtures (refrigerator, oven, dishwasher and sink).

* Accessible master bedroom size shall be at least 120 square feet (excluding the closet), shall accommodate a queen size bed, shall provide 36" in clearance around three sides of the bed, and shall provide required accessible clearances, free of all furnishings, at bedroom and closet doors. The master bedroom closet shall be on an accessible path.

* Wiring for audio and visual doorbells required by UFAS shall be installed.

* Closets and balconies shall be located on an accessible route.

* These units shall, to the maximum extent feasible and subject to reasonable health and safety requirements, be distributed through out the project consistent with 24 CFR Section 8.26.

* Applicant must commit to obtaining confirmation from a Certified Accessibility Specialist that the above requirements have been met. 2 points

(C) Smoke Free Residence. The proposed project commits to having at least one nonsmoking building and incorporating the prohibition into the lease agreement for the affected units. If the proposed project contains only one building, the proposed project shall commit to prohibiting smoking in designated contiguous units and incorporating the prohibition into the lease agreement for the affected units.2 points
(D) Historic Preservation. The project proposes to use Historic Tax Credits1 point
(E) Revitalization Area Project. The project is located within one of the following: a Qualified Census Tract (QCT), a census tract in which at least 50% of the households have an income of less than 60% of the area median income, or a federal Promise Zone. Additionally, the development must contribute to a concerted community revitalization plan as demonstrated by a letter from a local government official. The letter must delineate the various community revitalization efforts, funds committed or expended in the previous five years, and how the project would contribute to the community's revitalization.2 points
(F) Eventual Tenant Ownership. The project proposes to make Tax Credit Units available for eventual tenant ownership and provides the information described in Section 10325(c)(6) of these regulations.1 point
(G) Utilizing Excess State-Owned Land: Projects located on land designated as excess state land pursuant to Executive Order N-06-19.2 points

(9) Tie Breakers

If multiple applications receive the same score, the following tie breakers shall be employed:

For applications for projects within single-jurisdiction regional competitions only (the City and County of San Francisco and the City of Los Angeles geographic apportionments), the first tiebreaker shall be the presence within the submitted application of a formal letter of support for the project from either the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing or the Los Angeles Housing Department respectively. Within those cities, and for all other applications statewide, the subsequent tiebreakers shall be as follows:

First, if an application's housing type goal has been met in the current funding round in the percentages listed in section 10315, then the application will be skipped (unless the application to be skipped is the highest ranked in the set-aside, Native American apportionment, or geographic region) if there is another application with the same score and with a housing type goal that has not been met in the current funding round in the percentages listed in section 10315; and

Second, the highest of the sum of the following:

(A) Leveraged soft resources, as described below, defraying residential costs to total residential project development costs. Except where a third-party funding commitment is explicitly defraying non-residential costs only, leveraged soft resources shall be discounted by the proportion of the project that is non-residential. Leveraged soft resources shall be demonstrated through documentation including but not limited to funding award letters, committed land donations, or documented project-specific local fee waivers.

Leveraged soft resources shall include all of the following:

(i) Public funds. "Public funds" include federal, tribal, state, or local government funds, including the outstanding principal balances of prior existing public debt or subsidized debt that has been or will be assumed in the course of an acquisition/rehabilitation transaction, except that outstanding principal balances for projects subject to an existing CTCAC regulatory agreement shall not be considered public funds if such loans were funded less than 30 years prior to the application deadline. Outstanding principal balances shall not include any accrued interest on assumed loans even where the original interest has been or is being recast as principal under a new loan agreement. Public funds shall include assumed principal balances only upon documented approval of the loan assumption or other required procedure by the public agency holding the promissory note.

In addition, public funds include funds already awarded under the Affordable Housing Program of the Federal Home Loan Bank (AHP), waivers resulting in quantifiable cost savings that are not required by federal or state law, local government fee reductions established in ordinance and not required by federal or state law that are available only to rental affordable housing for lower-income households and affordable ownership housing for moderate income households, or the value of land and improvements donated or leased by a public entity or donated as part of an affordable housing ordinance, development agreement or legally enforceable mandate that is negotiated between a public entity and an unrelated private developer. The value of land leased by a public entity shall be discounted by the sum of up-front lease pre-payments and all mandatory lease payments in excess of $100 per year over the term of the lease, exclusive of residual receipt payments. For new construction applications, only the vacant land value may be counted for tiebreaker credit. The value of improvements to be demolished does not qualify as a leveraged soft resource. Private loans that are guaranteed by a public entity (for example, RHS Section 538 guaranteed financing) shall not be counted as public funds, unless the loans have a designated repayment commitment from a public source other than rental or operating subsidies, such as the HUD Title VI Loan Guarantee Program involving Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) funds. Land and building values, including for land donated or leased by a public entity or donated as part of an affordable housing ordinance, development agreement or legally enforceable mandate, must be supported by an independent, third-party appraisal consistent with the guidelines in Section 1032 2(h)(9). The appraised value is not to include off-site improvements. For Tribal apportionment applications, donated land value and land-purchase funding shall not be eligible. However, unsuccessful Tribal apportionment applicants subsequently competing within the rural set-aside or tribal applicants competing in a geographic region shall have such donated land value and land-purchase funding counted competitively as public funding if the land value is established in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph.

Loans must be "soft" loans, having terms (or remaining terms) of at least 15 years, and below market interest rates and interest accruals, and are either fully deferred or require only residual receipts payments for at least the first fifteen years of their terms. Qualified soft loans may have annual fees that reasonably defray compliance monitoring and asset management costs associated with the project. The maximum below-market interest rate allowed for tiebreaker purposes shall be the greater of four percent (4%) simple, or the Applicable Federal Rate if compounding. RHS Section 514 or 515 financing shall be considered soft debt in spite of a debt service requirement. Further, there shall be conclusive evidence presented that any new public funds have been firmly committed to the proposed project and require no further approvals, and that there has been no consideration other than the proposed housing given by anyone connected to the project, for the funds or the donated or leased land. Seller carryback financing and any portion of a loan from a public seller or related party that is less than or equal to sale proceeds due the seller, except for a public land loan to a new construction project that is not replacing affordable housing within the footprint of the original development, shall be excluded for purposes of the tiebreaker. Projects that include both new construction and rehabilitation or affordable housing replacement shall have the land loan value prorated based on units.

Public contributions of off-site costs shall not be counted competitively, unless (1) documented as a waived fee pursuant to a nexus study and relevant State Government Code provisions regulating such fees or (2) the off-sites must be developed by the sponsor as a condition of local approval and those off-sites consist solely of utility connections, and curbs, gutters, and sidewalks immediately bordering the property. Public funds shall be reduced for tie breaker scoring purposes by an amount equal to the off-sites not meeting the requirements noted in this paragraph.

The capitalized value of rent differentials attributable to public rent or public operating subsidies shall be considered public funds based upon CTCAC underwriting standards. Standards shall include a 15-year loan term; an interest rate established annually by CTCAC based upon a spread over 10-year Treasury Bill rates; a 1.15 to 1 debt service coverage ratio; and a five percent (5%) vacancy rate. In addition, the rental income differential for subsidized units shall be established by subtracting tax credit rental income at 40 percent (40%) AMI levels (30% AMI for units subject to the 40% average AMI requirement of Section 10325(g)(3)(A)) from the committed contract rent income documented by the subsidy source or, in the case of a USDA rental subsidy only, the higher of 60% AMI rents or the committed contract USDA Basic rents. The committed contract rent income for units with existing project-based Section 8 rental subsidy shall be documented by the current monthly contract rent in place at the time of the application or by contract rent committed to and approved by the subsidy source (HUD); rent from a rent comparable study or post-rehabilitation rent shall not be permitted. The rent differential for projects with public operating subsidies shall equal the annual subsidy amount in year 1, provided the subsidy will be of a similar amount in succeeding years, or the aggregate subsidy amount of the contract divided by the number of years in the contract if the contract does not specify an annual subsidy amount.

(ii) soft loans that meet the criteria described in subparagraph (i) (except that terms shall be of at least 55 years), or grants, from unrelated non-public parties that are not covered by subparagraph (i) and that do not represent financing available through the National Mortgage Settlement Affordable Rental Housing Consumer Relief programs. The party providing the soft loans or grants shall not be a partner or proposed partner in the limited partnership (unless the partner has no ownership interest and only the right to complete construction) and shall not receive any benefit or funds from a related party to the project. The application shall include (1) a certification from an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or independent tax attorney that the leveraged soft resource(s) is from an unrelated non-public entity(ies), that the unrelated non-public entity(ies) shall not receive any benefit or funds from a related party to the project, and that the leveraged soft resource(s) is available and not committed to any other project or use; and (2) a narrative from the applicant regarding the nature and source of the leveraged soft resource(s) and the conditions under which it was given. Seller carryback financing and any portion of a loan from a non-public seller or related party that is less than or equal to sale proceeds due the seller shall be excluded for purposes of the tiebreaker.

(iii) the value of donated land and improvements that are not covered by subparagraph (i), that meet the criteria described in subparagraph (i), and that are contributed by an unrelated entity (unless otherwise approved by the Executive Director), so long as the contributed asset has been held by the entity for at least five years prior to the application due date, except for the value of donated land and improvements in the case of a rehabilitation project subject to an existing regulatory agreement with CTCAC or a federal, state, or local public entity or with greater than 25% of the units receiving project-based rental assistance unless the land and improvements are wholly donated. For a case in which the donor is a non-profit organization acting solely as a pass-through entity, the Executive Director may in advance of the application date approve an exception to the five-year hold rule provided that the donor to the non-profit organization held the contributed asset for at least five years and that both the original donor and non-profit donor meet the requirements of, and are included in the certifications required by, this paragraph. The party providing the donation shall not be a partner or proposed partner in the limited partnership (unless the partner has no ownership interest and only the right to complete construction) and shall not receive any benefit from a related party to the project. In addition, the land shall not have been owned previously by a related party or a partner or proposed partner (unless the partner has no ownership interest and only the right to complete construction). The application shall include a certification from an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or independent tax attorney that the donation is from an unrelated entity and that the unrelated entity shall not receive any benefit from a related party to the project. For new construction applications, only the vacant land value may be counted for tiebreaker credit. The value of improvements to be demolished does not qualify as a leveraged soft resource.

(iv) For purposes of this section, a related party shall mean a member of the development team or a Related Party, as defined in Section 10302, to a member of the development team.

(v) For 4% credit applications, recycled private activity bonds (whether they be used for construction or permanent financing or both) shall be considered leveraged soft resources so long as the loan terms are consistent with market standards.

Permanent funding sources for this tiebreaker shall not include equity commitments related to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.

Land donations include land leased for a de minimis annual lease payment. CTCAC may contract with an appraisal reviewer and, if it does so, shall commission an appraisal review for donated land and improvements if a reduction of 15% to the submitted appraisal value would change an award outcome. If the appraisal review finds the submitted appraisal to be inappropriate, misleading, or inconsistent with the data reported and with other generally known information, then the reviewer shall develop his or her own opinion of value and CTCAC shall use the opinion of value established by the appraisal reviewer for calculating the tiebreaker only.

The numerator of projects of 50 or more newly constructed or adaptive reuse Tax Credit Units shall be multiplied by a size factor equal to seventy five percent plus the total number of newly constructed or adaptively reused Tax Credit Units divided by 200 (75% + (total new construction/adaptive reuse units/200)). The size factor calculation shall be limited to no more than 150 Tax Credit Units.

In the case of a new construction Hybrid 9% and 4% tax credit development which meets all of the following conditions, the calculation of the size factor for the 9% application shall include all of the Tax Credit Units in the 4% application up to the limit described above, the leveraged soft resources ratio calculated pursuant to this subparagraph (A) shall utilize the combined amount of leveraged soft resources defraying residential costs and the combined total residential project development costs from both the 9% and 4% applications, and the ratio calculated pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall also utilize the combined total residential project development costs from both the 9% and 4% applications:

(i) the 4% application shall have been submitted to CTCAC and CDLAC by the 9% application deadline;

(ii) the 4% and 9% projects are simultaneous phases, as defined in Section 10327(c)(2)(C);

(iii) the 4% application is eligible for maximum points under Sections 10325(c)(3), (4)(B), (5), and (6), except that 1) the 4% application may be eligible for maximum points in the lowest income category in combination with the 9% project, and 2) the 4% application may be eligible for maximum housing type points in combination with the 9% project. Under each exception, the 9% project shall also be scored in the corresponding point category in combination with the 4% project; and

(iv) developers shall defer or contribute as equity to the project any amount of combined 4% and 9% developer fees in cost that are in excess of the limit pursuant to Section 10327(c)(2)(A) plus $20,000 per unit for each Tax Credit Unit in excess of 100, using (a) the combined Tax Credit Units of the 9% and 4% components, (b) the combined eligible basis of the 9% and 4% components, and (c) the high-cost test factor calculated using the eligible basis and threshold basis limits for the 9% component.

In the event that the 4% component of a Hybrid project that receives an increase to its size factor pursuant to this paragraph is not placed in service within six months of the 9% component, both applicants may be subject to negative points.

If the project's paid purchase price exceeds appraised value, the leveraged soft resources amount shall be discounted by the overage, unless the Executive Director has granted a waiver pursuant to Section 10327(c)(6).

(B) One (1) minus the ratio of requested unadjusted eligible basis to total residential project development costs, with the resulting figure divided by two.

(C) Except as provided below, a new construction Large Family housing type project (excluding a Special Needs project with non-special needs Low-Income Units meeting Large Family housing type requirements) shall receive a higher resource area bonus as follows based on the designation of the project's location on the CTCAC/HCD Opportunity Area Map:

The project is non-rural and the project's census tract is a Highest Resource area20 percentage points
The project is non-rural and the project's census tract is a High Resource area10 percentage points
The project is rural and project's census tract or census block group as applicable is a Highest Resource area10 percentage points
The project is rural and the project's census tract or census block group as applicable is a High Resource area5 percentage points

This bonus shall not apply to projects competing in the Native American apportionment, unless such projects fall into the rural set-aside competition. In addition, this bonus shall not apply to a project supported by affordable housing ordinances, which for purposes of this subparagraph shall mean a project in which any of the Low-Income Units satisfy the obligations of any affordable housing ordinance, development agreement or legally enforceable mandate negotiated between a public entity and private developer, unless the obligations derive solely from the Low-Income Units themselves or unless the project includes at least 40 Low-Income Units that are not counted towards the obligations of the affordable housing ordinance, development agreement, or legally enforceable mandate. An application for a large family new construction project located in a High or Highest Resource area shall disclose whether or not the project includes any Low-Income Units which satisfy the obligations of an affordable housing ordinance, development agreement or legally enforceable mandate and, if so, the number of such units and whether the affordable obligations derive solely from the Low-Income Units themselves.

An applicant may choose to utilize the census tract, or census block group as applicable, resource designation from the CTCAC/HCD Opportunity Maps in effect when the initial site control was obtained up to seven calendar years prior to the application.

(D) For Rural set aside projects applying in counties where no tax credit applications have been received within five years of the application filing date, the tiebreaker shall be increased by five percentage points.

The resulting tiebreaker score must not have decreased following award or negative points may be awarded.

*Available to Rural set-aside projects only

(B) A project that agrees to have at least ten percent (10%) of its Low-Income Units available for tenants with incomes no greater than thirty percent (30%) of area median, and to restrict the rents on those units accordingly, will receive two points in addition to other points received under this subsection. The 30% units must be spread across the various bedroom-count units, starting with the largest bedroom-count units (e.g. four bedroom units), and working down to the smaller bedroom-count units, assuring that at least 10% of the larger units are proposed at 30% of area median income. So long as the applicant meets the 10% standard project-wide, the 10% standard need not be met among all of the smaller units. The CTCAC Executive director may correct applicant errors in carrying out this largest-to-smallest unit protocol. (These points may be obtained by using the 30% section of the matrix.)

All projects, except those applying under section 10326 of these regulations, will be subject to the minimum low income percentages chosen for a period of 55 years (50 years for projects located on tribal trust land), unless they receive Federal Tax Credits only and are intended for eventual tenant homeownership, in which case they must submit, at application, evidence of a financially feasible program, incorporating, among other items, an exit strategy, home ownership counseling, funds to be set aside to assist tenants in the purchase of units, and a plan for conversion of the facility to home ownership at the end of the initial 15 year compliance period. In such a case, the regulatory agreement will contain provisions for the enforcement of such covenants.

(7) Readiness to Proceed. 10 points will be available to projects that document enforceable financing commitment(s) as defined in Section 10325(f)(3) for all construction financing and demonstrate construction can commence within 180 days or 194 days of the Credit Reservation as assigned by the Executive Director and documented by the requirements below.

No later than the assigned deadline, CTCAC must receive:

(A) a completed updated application form along with a detailed explanation of any changes from the initial application,

(B) an executed construction contract,

(C) recorded deeds of trust for all construction financing (unless a project's location on tribal trust land precludes this), binding commitments for permanent financing, binding commitments for any other financing required to complete project construction,

(D) a limited partnership agreement executed by the general partner and the investor providing the equity,

(E) an updated CTCAC Attachment 16,

(F) issuance of building permits (a grading permit does not suffice to meet this requirement except that in the event that the city or county as a rule does not issue building permits prior to the completion of grading, a grading permit shall suffice; if the project is a design-build project in which the city or county does not issue building permits until designs are fully complete, the city or county shall have approved construction to begin) or the applicable tribal documents, and

(G) notice to proceed delivered to the contractor.

The Executive Director shall either rescind the Tax Credit Reservation, assess negative points, or both for failure to meet the assigned due date.

If no construction lender is involved, evidence must be submitted no later than the assigned due date, after the Reservation is made that the equity partner has been admitted to the ownership entity, and that an initial disbursement of funds has occurred. CTCAC shall conduct a financial feasibility and cost reasonableness analysis upon receiving submitted Readiness documentation.

In the event of a federally declared emergency by the President of the United States, a state declared emergency by the Governor of the State of California, or similar event determined by the Committee, and at the sole discretion of the Executive Director, extensions may be granted.

(8) Miscellaneous Federal and State Policies Maximum 2 points
(A) Credit Substitution. For applicants who agree to both 1) exchange Federal Tax Credits for State Tax Credits pursuant to Section 10317(e) and 2) exchange State Tax Credits for Federal Tax Credits pursuant to Section 10317(c). 2 points

Applicants receiving these points agree to make the exchange in a manner that yields equal equity based solely on the tax credit factors stated in the application.

(B) Enhanced Accessibility and Visitability. Project design incorporates California Building Code Chapter 11(B) and the principles of Universal Design in at least half of the project's Low-Income Units by including:

* Accessible routes of travel to the dwelling units with accessible 34" minimum clear-opening-width entry, and 34" clear width for all doors on an accessible path.

* Interior doors with lever hardware and 42" minimum width hallways.

* Fully accessible bathrooms complying with California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 11(A) and 11(B). In addition, a 30"x48" clearance parallel to and centered on the bathroom vanity.

* Accessible kitchens with 30"x48" clearance parallel to and centered on the front of all major appliances and fixtures (refrigerator, oven, dishwasher and sink).

* Accessible master bedroom size shall be at least 120 square feet (excluding the closet), shall accommodate a queen size bed, shall provide 36" in clearance around three sides of the bed, and shall provide required accessible clearances, free of all furnishings, at bedroom and closet doors. The master bedroom closet shall be on an accessible path.

* Wiring for audio and visual doorbells required by UFAS shall be installed.

* Closets and balconies shall be located on an accessible route.

* These units shall, to the maximum extent feasible and subject to reasonable health and safety requirements, be distributed through out the project consistent with 24 CFR Section 8.26.

* Applicant must commit to obtaining confirmation from a Certified Accessibility Specialist that the above requirements have been met. 2 points

(C) Smoke Free Residence. The proposed project commits to having at least one nonsmoking building and incorporating the prohibition into the lease agreement for the affected units. If the proposed project contains only one building, the proposed project shall commit to prohibiting smoking in designated contiguous units and incorporating the prohibition into the lease agreement for the affected units.2 points
(D) Historic Preservation. The project proposes to use Historic Tax Credits1 point
(E) Revitalization Area Project. The project is located within one of the following: a Qualified Census Tract (QCT), a census tract in which at least 50% of the households have an income of less than 60% of the area median income, or a federal Promise Zone. Additionally, the development must contribute to a concerted community revitalization plan as demonstrated by a letter from a local government official. The letter must delineate the various community revitalization efforts, funds committed or expended in the previous five years, and how the project would contribute to the community's revitalization.2 points
(F) Eventual Tenant Ownership. The project proposes to make Tax Credit Units available for eventual tenant ownership and provides the information described in Section 10325(c)(6) of these regulations.1 point

(9) Tie Breakers

If multiple applications receive the same score, the following tie breakers shall be employed:

For applications for projects within single-jurisdiction regional competitions only (the City and County of San Francisco and the City of Los Angeles geographic apportionments), the first tiebreaker shall be the presence within the submitted application of a formal letter of support for the project from either the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing or the Los Angeles Housing Department respectively. Within those cities, and for all other applications statewide, the subsequent tiebreakers shall be as follows:

First, if an application's housing type goal has been met in the current funding round in the percentages listed in section 10315, then the application will be skipped (unless the application to be skipped is the highest ranked in the set-aside or geographic region) if there is another application with the same score and with a housing type goal that has not been met in the current funding round in the percentages listed in section 10315; and

Second, the highest of the sum of the following:

(A) Leveraged soft resources, as described below, defraying residential costs to total residential project development costs. Except where a third-party funding commitment is explicitly defraying non-residential costs only, leveraged soft resources shall be discounted by the proportion of the project that is non-residential. Leveraged soft resources shall be demonstrated through documentation including but not limited to funding award letters, committed land donations, or documented project-specific local fee waivers.

Leveraged soft resources shall include all of the following:

(i) Public funds. "Public funds" include federal, tribal, state, or local government funds, including the outstanding principal balances of prior existing public debt or subsidized debt that has been or will be assumed in the course of an acquisition/rehabilitation transaction, except that outstanding principal balances for projects subject to any existing CTCAC regulatory agreement shall not be considered public funds if such loans were funded less than 30 years prior to the application deadline. Outstanding principal balances shall not include any accrued interest on assumed loans even where the original interest has been or is being recast as principal under a new loan agreement. Public funds shall include assumed principal balances only upon documented approval of the loan assumption or other required procedure by the public agency holding the promissory note.

In addition, public funds include funds already awarded under the Affordable Housing Program of the Federal Home Loan Bank (AHP), waivers resulting in quantifiable cost savings that are not required by federal or state law, local government fee reductions established in ordinance and not required by federal or state law that are available only to rental affordable housing for lower-income households and affordable ownership housing for moderate income households, or the value of land and improvements donated or leased by a public entity or donated as part of an inclusionary housing ordinance or other development agreement negotiated between a public entity and an unrelated private developer. The value of land leased by a public entity shall be discounted by the sum of up-front lease pre-payments and all mandatory lease payments in excess of $100 per year over the term of the lease, exclusive of residual receipt payments. Private loans that are guaranteed by a public entity (for example, RHS Section 538 guaranteed financing) shall not be counted as public funds, unless the loans have a designated repayment commitment from a public source other than rental or operating subsidies, such as the HUD Title VI Loan Guarantee Program involving Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) funds. Land and building values, including for land donated or leased by a public entity or donated as part of an inclusionary housing ordinance or other development agreement, must be supported by an independent, third party appraisal consistent with the guidelines in Section 10322(h)(9). The appraised value is not to include off-site improvements. For Tribal apportionment applications, donated land value and land-purchase funding shall not be eligible. However, unsuccessful Tribal apportionment applicants subsequently competing within the rural set-aside or tribal applicants competing in a geographic region shall have such donated land value and land-purchase funding counted competitively as public funding if the land value is established in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph.

Loans must be "soft" loans, having terms (or remaining terms) of at least 15 years, and below market interest rates and interest accruals, and are either fully deferred or require only residual receipts payments for at least the first fifteen years of their terms. Qualified soft loans may have annual fees that reasonably defray compliance monitoring and asset management costs associated with the project. The maximum below-market interest rate allowed for tiebreaker purposes shall be the greater of four percent (4%) simple, or the Applicable Federal Rate if compounding. RHS Section 514 or 515 financing shall be considered soft debt in spite of a debt service requirement. Further, there shall be conclusive evidence presented that any new public funds have been firmly committed to the proposed project and require no further approvals, and that there has been no consideration other than the proposed housing given by anyone connected to the project, for the funds or the donated or leased land. Seller carryback financing and any portion of a loan from a public seller or related party that is less than or equal to sale proceeds due the seller, except for a public land loan to a new construction project that is not replacing affordable housing within the footprint of the original development, shall be excluded for purposes of the tiebreaker. Projects that include both new construction and rehabilitation or affordable housing replacement shall have the land loan value prorated based on units.

Public contributions of off-site costs shall not be counted competitively, unless (1) documented as a waived fee pursuant to a nexus study and relevant State Government Code provisions regulating such fees or (2) the off-sites must be developed by the sponsor as a condition of local approval and those off-sites consist solely of utility connections, and curbs, gutters, and sidewalks immediately bordering the property. Public funds shall be reduced for tie breaker scoring purposes by an amount equal to the off-sites not meeting the requirements noted in this paragraph.

The capitalized value of rent differentials attributable to public rent or public operating subsidies shall be considered public funds based upon CTCAC underwriting standards. Standards shall include a 15-year loan term; an interest rate established annually by CTCAC based upon a spread over 10-year Treasury Bill rates; a 1.15 to 1 debt service coverage ratio; and a five percent (5%) vacancy rate. In addition, the rental income differential for subsidized units shall be established by subtracting tax credit rental income at 40 percent (40%) AMI levels (30% AMI for units subject to the 40% average AMI requirement of Section 10325(g)(3)(A)) from the committed contract rent income documented by the subsidy source or, in the case of a USDA rental subsidy only, the higher of 60% AMI rents or the committed contract USDA Basic rents. The committed contract rent income for units with existing project-based Section 8 rental subsidy shall be documented by the current monthly contract rent in place at the time of the application or by contract rent committed to and approved by the subsidy source (HUD); rent from a rent comparable study or post-rehabilitation rent shall not be permitted. The rent differential for projects with public operating subsidies shall equal the annual subsidy amount in year 1, provided the subsidy will be of a similar amount in succeeding years, or the aggregate subsidy amount of the contract divided by the number of years in the contract if the contract does not specify an annual subsidy amount.

(ii) soft loans that meet the criteria described in subparagraph (i) (except that terms shall be of at least 55 years), or grants, from unrelated non-public parties that are not covered by subparagraph (i) and that do not represent Financing available through the National Mortgage Settlement Affordable Rental Housing Consumer Relief programs. The party providing the soft loans or grants shall not be a partner or proposed partner in the limited partnership (unless the partner has no ownership interest and only the right to complete construction) and shall not receive any benefit or funds from a related party to the project. The application shall include (1) a certification from an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or independent tax attorney that the leveraged soft resource(s) is from an unrelated non-public entity(ies), that the unrelated non-public entity(ies) shall not receive any benefit or funds from a related party to the project, and that the leveraged soft resource(s) is available and not committed to any other project or use; and (2) a narrative from the applicant regarding the nature and source of the leveraged soft resource(s) and the conditions under which it was given. Seller carryback financing and any portion of a loan from a non-public seller or related party that is less than or equal to sale proceeds due the seller shall be excluded for purposes of the tiebreaker.

(iii) the value of donated land and improvements that are not covered by subparagraph (i), that meet the criteria described in subparagraph (i), and that are contributed by an unrelated entity (unless otherwise approved by the Executive Director), so long as the contributed asset has been held by the entity for at least 5 years prior to the application due date, except for the value of donated land and improvements in the case of rehabilitation project subject to an existing regulatory agreement with CTCAC or a federal, state, or local public entity or with greater than 25% of the units receiving project-based rental assistance unless the land and improvements are wholly donated. For a case in which the donor is a non-profit organization acting solely as a pass-through entity, the Executive Director may in advance of the application date approve an exception to the 5-year hold rule provided that the donor to the non-profit organization held the contributed asset for at least 5 years and that both the original donor and non-profit donor meet the requirements of, and are included in the certifications required by, this paragraph. The party providing the donation shall not be a partner or proposed partner in the limited partnership (unless the partner has no ownership interest and only the right to complete construction) and shall not receive any benefit from a related party to the project. In addition, the land shall not have been owned previously by a related party or a partner or proposed partner (unless the partner has no ownership interest and only the right to complete construction). The application shall include a certification from an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or independent tax attorney that the donation is from an unrelated entity and that the unrelated entity shall not receive any benefit from a related party to the project.

(iv) For purposes of this section, a related party shall mean a member of the development team or a Related Party, as defined in Section 10302, to a member of the development team.

(v) For 4% credit applications, recycled private activity bonds (whether they be used for construction or permanent financing or both) shall be considered leveraged soft resources so long as the loan terms are consistent with market standards.

Permanent funding sources for this tiebreaker shall not include equity commitments related to the Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Land donations include land leased for a de minimis annual lease payment. CTCAC may contract with an appraisal reviewer and, if it does so, shall commission an appraisal review for donated land and improvements if a reduction of 15% to the submitted appraisal value would change an award outcome. If the appraisal review finds the submitted appraisal to be inappropriate, misleading, or inconsistent with the data reported and with other generally known information, then the reviewer shall develop his or her own opinion of value and CTCAC shall use the opinion of value established by the appraisal reviewer for calculating the tiebreaker only.

The numerator of projects of 50 or more newly constructed or adaptive reuse Tax Credit Units shall be multiplied by a size factor equal to seventy five percent plus the total number of newly constructed or adaptively reused Tax Credit Units divided by 200 (75% + (total new construction/adaptive reuse units/200)). The size factor calculation shall be limited to no more than 150 Tax Credit Units.

In the case of a new construction hybrid 9% and 4% tax credit development which meets all of the following conditions, the calculation of the size factor for the 9% application shall include all of the Tax Credit Units in the 4% application up to the limit described above, the leveraged soft resources ratio calculated pursuant to this subparagraph (A) shall utilize the combined amount of leveraged soft resources defraying residential costs and the combined total residential project development costs from both the 9% and 4% applications, and the ratio calculated pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall also utilize the combined total residential project development costs from both the 9% and 4% applications:

(i) the 4% application shall have been submitted to CTCAC and CDLAC by the 9% application deadline;

(ii) the 4% and 9% projects are simultaneous phases, as defined in Section 10327(c)(2)(C);

(iii) the 4% application is eligible for maximum points under Sections 10325(c)(3), (4)(B), (5), and (6), except that 1) the 4% application may be eligible for maximum points in the lowest income category in combination with the 9% project, and 2) the 4% application may be eligible for maximum housing type points in combination with the 9% project. Under each exception, the 9% project shall also be scored in the corresponding point category in combination with the 4% project; and

(iv) developers shall defer or contribute as equity to the project any amount of combined 4% and 9% developer fees in cost that are in excess of the limit pursuant to Section 10327(c)(2)(A) plus $20,000 per unit for each Tax Credit Unit in excess of 100, using (a) the combined Tax Credit Units of the 9% and 4% components, (b) the combined eligible basis of the 9% and 4% components, and (c) the high-cost test factor calculated using the eligible basis and threshold basis limits for the 9% component.

In the event that the 4% component of a hybrid project that receives an increase to its size factor pursuant to this paragraph is not placed in service within 6 months of the 9% component, both applicants shall be subject to negative points.

If the project's paid purchase price exceeds appraised value, the leveraged soft resources amount shall be discounted by the overage, unless the Executive Director has granted a waiver pursuant to Section 10327(c)(6).

(B) One (1) minus the ratio of requested unadjusted eligible basis to total residential project development costs, with the resulting figure divided by three.

(C) Except as provided below, a new construction Large Family housing type project or later (excluding a Special Needs project with non-special needs Low-Income Units meeting Large Family housing type requirements) shall receive a higher resource area bonus as follows based on the designation of the project's location on the TCAC/HCD Opportunity Area Map:

The project is non-rural and the project's census tract is a Highest Resource area20 percentage points
The project is non-rural and the project's census tract is a High Resource area10 percentage points
The project is rural and the project's census tract or census block group as applicable is a Highest Resource area10 percentage points
The project is rural and the project's census tract or census block group as applicable is a High Resource area5 percentage points

This bonus shall not apply to projects competing in the Native American apportionment, unless such projects fall into the rural set-aside competition. In addition, this bonus shall not apply to an inclusionary project, which for purposes of this subparagraph shall mean a project in which any of the Low-Income Units satisfy the obligations of an inclusionary housing ordinance or other development agreement negotiated between a public entity and private developer, unless the obligations derive solely from the Low-Income Units themselves or unless the project includes at least 40 Low-Income Units that are not counted towards the obligations of the inclusionary housing ordinance or development agreement. An application for a large family new construction project located in a High or Highest Resource area shall disclose whether or not the project includes any Low-Income Units which satisfy the obligations of an inclusionary housing ordinance or development agreement and, if so, the number of such units and whether the inclusionary obligations derive solely from the Low-Income Units themselves.

An applicant may choose to utilize the census tract, or census block group as applicable, resource designation from the TCAC/HCD Opportunity Maps in effect when the initial site control was obtained up to seven calendar years prior to the application.

(D) For Rural set aside projects applying in counties where no tax credit applications have been received within 5 years of the application filing date, the tiebreaker shall be increased by 5 percentage points.

The resulting tiebreaker score must not have decreased following award or negative points may be awarded.

(d) Application selection for evaluation. Except where CTCAC staff determines a project to be high cost, staff shall score and rank projects as described below. Staff shall identify high-cost projects by comparing each scored project's total eligible basis against its total adjusted threshold basis limits. CTCAC shall calculate total eligible basis by using all project costs listed within the application unless those costs are not includable in basis under federal law as demonstrated by the shaded cells in the application sources and uses budget itself or by a letter from the development team's third-party tax professional. A project will be designated "high cost" if a project's total eligible basis exceeds its total adjusted threshold basis limit by 30%. Staff shall not recommend such project for credits. Any project that receives a reservation on or after January 1, 2016 may be subject to negative points if the project's total eligible basis at placed in service exceeds the revised total adjusted threshold basis limit by 40%. For purposes of calculating the high-cost test at placed in service, CTCAC shall use the higher of the unadjusted threshold basis limit from application or the year the project places in service.

Following the scoring and ranking of project applications in accordance with the above criteria, subject to conditions described in these regulations, reservations of Tax Credits shall be made for those applications of highest rank in the following manner.

(1) Set-aside application selection. Beginning with the top-ranked application from the Nonprofit set-aside, followed by the Rural set-aside (funding the RHS, HOME, and CDBG-DR program apportionment first, and the Native American apportionment second), the At Risk set-aside, and the Special Needs set-aside, the highest scoring applications will have Tax Credits reserved. Credit amounts to be reserved in the set-asides will be established at the exact percentages set forth in section 10315, with the exception of the Federal Credit amount established by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. If the last project funded in a set-aside requires more than the credits remaining in that set-aside, such overages in the first funding round will be subtracted from that set-aside in determining the amount available in the set-aside for the second funding round. If Credits are not reserved in the first round they will be added to second round amounts in the same Set Aside. If more Tax Credits are reserved to the last project in a set-aside than are available in that set-aside during the second funding round, the overage will be taken from the Supplemental Set-Aside if there are sufficient funds. If not, the award will be counted against the amounts available from the geographic area in which the project is located. Any unused credits from any Set-Asides will be transferred to the Supplemental Set-Aside and used for Waiting List projects after the second round. Tax Credits reserved in all set-asides shall be counted within the housing type goals.
(A) For an application to receive a reservation within a set-aside, or within a rural set-aside apportionment, there shall be at least one dollar of Credit not yet reserved in the set-aside or apportionment.

(B) Set-aside applications requesting State tax credits shall be funded, even when State credits for that year have been exhausted. The necessary State credits shall be reserved from the subsequent year's aggregate annual State credit allotment.

(C) Except for projects competing in the rural set-aside, which shall not be eligible to compete in geographic area, unless the projects are located within a Geographic Region and no other projects have been funded within the Project's region during the year in question, after a set-aside is reserved all remaining applications competing within the set-aside shall compete in the Geographic Region.

Federal Credit established by the FCAA application selection. Applications for projects located in the counties designated as qualified 2017 and 2018 California disaster areas by the FCAA, FCAA Federal Credit shall only be reserved for (1) new construction projects also including projects that involve the demolition or rehabilitation of existing residential units that increase the unit count by (i) 25 or (ii) 50% of the existing units, whichever is greater, and adaptive re-use of non-residential structures, or (2) reconstruction or rehabilitation of an existing project located within a FCAA disaster area fire perimeter, as designated by CAL FIRE and available on the CTCAC website https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ctcac/, and directly damaged by the fire, and that apply for the FCAA Federal Credit. Applications shall meet all program eligibility requirements unless stated otherwise below, and located in the following counties: Butte, Lake, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sonoma, Ventura, and Yuba.

Applications for projects applying for FCAA Federal Credit shall be competitively scored within the county apportionment under the system delineated in Sections 10325(c)(1) through (3), (4)(B), and (6). In the cases where applications receive the same score, the following tiebreakers shall be employed: First, a formal letter of support for the specific project from the Local Reviewing Agency (LRA) outlining how the project will contribute to the community's recovery efforts submitted in the application or received by CTCAC no later than 14 days following the application filing deadline; Second, the application with the greatest number of proposed Tax Credit Units per annual Federal Tax Credit amount requested; and Third, the application with the greatest number of proposed bedrooms within the proposed Tax Credit Units.

For projects located within a FCAA disaster area fire perimeter, as designated by CAL FIRE and available on the CTCAC website https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ctcac/, applying for FCAA Federal Credit in the 2020 funding round, local approvals and zoning requirements of Section 10325(f)(4) must be evidenced to CTCAC no later than June 1, 2021. Failure to do so shall result in rescission of the Tax Credit Reservation on June 2, 2021. The deadline in this paragraph may be extended if the Executive Director finds, in his or her sole discretion, a project merits additional time due to delays directly caused by fire, war, or act of God. In considering a request, the Executive Director may consider, among other things, the length of the delay and the circumstances relating to the delay.

The deferred-payment financing commitment requirements of Section 10325(f)(8) are modified for FCAA Federal Credit applications with 2017 and 2018 HCD Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Multifamily financing as follows: a letter from an HCD identified jurisdiction stating the intent to commit a portion of that jurisdiction's HCD allocation. The letter must provide the dollar amount and the estimated date which the jurisdiction will provide CTCAC a written commitment in compliance with the requirements of Section 10325(f)(8). Projects must receive these CDBG-DR funds prior to the CTCAC placed-in-service application deadline.

FCAA Federal Credit shall be made available starting in the 2020 second funding round in the amounts shown below:

ANNUAL FEDERAL TAX CREDIT BASE + LOST UNIT ALLOCATIONCOUNTY
$40,087,453Butte
$16,365,940Sonoma
$5,630,499Los Angeles
$5,421,263Shasta
$4,975,965Ventura
$4,109,511Napa
$3,342,311Mendocino
$3,259,153Lake
$2,886,283Yuba
$2,816,537San Diego
$2,583,158Santa Barbara
$2,580,476Nevada
$2,561,698Orange
$2,000,000Supplemental
$98,620,247TOTAL

The funding order shall be followed by funding the highest scoring application, if any, in each of the 13 counties. After each county has had the opportunity to fund one project, CTCAC shall award the second highest scoring project in each county, if any, and continue cycling through the counties, filling each county's apportionment.

For an application to receive a FCAA Federal Credit reservation, there shall be at least one dollar of Credit not yet reserved in the county allocation so long as the county's last award does not cause the county's aggregate award amount to exceed 105 percent (105%) of the amount originally available for that county. FCAA Federal Credit allocated in excess of the county's allocation by the application of the 105% rule described above will be deducted from the Supplemental allocation. If the last application requires credits in excess of 105% of the county's allocation, that application will not be funded. If all FCAA Federal Credit in a funding round has been awarded, all remaining FCAA applications shall compete in the applicable set-aside or geographic region, provided the application meets the requirements of the set-aside or geographic region, and the requirements of Section 10325.

At the conclusion of the funding round, if less than 10% of the total FCAA Federal Credit remains, all unallocated FCAA Federal Credit within the county allocations will be combined and available to remaining projects requesting FCAA Federal Credits and which meet the threshold and underwriting requirements through a waiting list. The award selection will be made from the waiting list to the counties in the order listed above. Within each county, the award selection will start with the highest-ranking project located within a FCAA disaster area fire perimeter, as designated by CAL FIRE and available on the CTCAC website https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ctcac/ first and continue within that county in rank order until no eligible applications remain. Subsequent to the above selection ranking, any unused FCAA Federal Credit shall be designated for projects where at least fifty percent (50%) of the Low-Income Units within the project are designated for homeless households as described in Sections 10315(b)(1) through (4) starting with the highest-ranking project pursuant to Section 10325(c) without regard to the set aside or geographic region for which the application applied.

All projects awarded FCAA Federal Credit in 2020 may return their allocation to the Committee without assessment of negative points if the formal written notification from the applicant of the return is received by the Committee no later than September 1, 2021. Any returned credits following September 1, 2021 will be made available to projects from the FCAA Federal Credit waiting list as previously stated. Any new application received for a project on the waiting list shall result in that project's removal from the waiting list.

The FCAA Federal Credit amount shall not be counted towards the set asides of Section 10315, the housing type goals of Section 10315(h), or the geographic apportionments of Section 10315(i). Applications for FCAA Federal Credit shall not be counted towards the four (4) awards limit of Section 10325(c). Notwithstanding Section 10325(f)(9)(C), the maximum annual Federal Tax Credits available for award to any one project in any funding round applying for FCAA Federal Credit shall not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000). Applications for FCAA Federal Credit are not eligible for State Tax Credits.

Federal Credit established by the CAA application selection. Applications for projects located in the counties designated as qualified 2020 California disaster areas by the CAA, CAA Federal Credit shall only be reserved for (1) new construction projects also including projects that involve the demolition or rehabilitation of existing residential units that increase the unit count by (i) 25 or (ii) 50% of the existing units, whichever is greater, and adaptive re-use of non-residential structures, or (2) reconstruction or rehabilitation of an existing project located within a CAA or FCAA disaster area fire perimeter, as designated by CAL FIRE and available on the CTCAC website https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ctcac/, and directly damaged by the fire, and that apply for the CAA Federal Credit. Applications shall meet all program eligibility requirements unless stated otherwise below, and located in the following counties: Butte, Fresno, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Trinity, Tulare, and Yolo.

Applications for projects applying for CAA Federal Credit shall be competitively scored within the county/regional apportionment under the system delineated in Sections 10325(c)(1) through (8). At the sole discretion of the Executive Director, an extension of up to 90 days may be granted to the 180/194-day readiness deadline. In the cases where applications receive the same score, the following tiebreakers shall be employed: First, projects located within a CAA or FCAA disaster area fire perimeter, as designated by CAL FIRE and available on the CTCAC website https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ctcac/, and not opposed or strongly opposed by the Local Reviewing Agency (LRA); Second, the presence of an enforceable financing commitment to the specific project of at least $1,000,000 from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development ("HCD") and assuming a 4% tax credit financing structure such that the Federal Tax Credit request divided by the total eligible basis does not exceed 7.5%; and Third, the application with the greatest number of proposed bedroom-adjusted Tax Credit Units per annual Federal Tax Credit amount requested. To calculate the bedroom-adjusted units, each Tax Credit Unit will be multiplied by the adjustment factor for units of that bedroom count. A project's adjusted units shall be the sum of each of these products. The adjustment factors shall be:

* .9 for a studio unit.

* 1 for a one-bedroom unit.

* 1.25 for a two-bedroom unit.

* 1.5 for a three-bedroom unit up to no more than 30% of the total units, then such additional units shall be counted as 2-bedroom units.

* 1.75 for a four-bedroom or larger unit up to no more than 10% of the total units, then such additional units shall be counted as 2-bedroom units.

The deferred-payment financing commitment requirements of Section 10325(f)(8) are modified for CAA Federal Credit applications with HCD Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Multifamily financing as follows: a letter from an HCD identified jurisdiction stating the intent to commit a portion of that jurisdiction's HCD allocation. The letter must provide the dollar amount and the estimated date which the jurisdiction will provide CTCAC a written commitment in compliance with the requirements of Section 10325(f)(8). Projects must receive these CDBG-DR funds prior to the CTCAC placed-in service application deadline.

CAA Federal Credit shall be made available starting in the 2021 second funding round in the amounts shown below:

ANNUAL FEDERAL TAX CREDIT BASE + LOST UNIT ALLOCATIONCOUNTY/ REGION
$17,261,698Butte County
$12,058,293Santa Cruz County
$9,395,477Napa County
$8,714,494North Region (San Mateo, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, and Yolo Counties)
$8,609,728Fresno County
$8,408,925Sonoma County
$7,553,332South Region (Madera, Monterey, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Tulare Counties)
$6,741,391Rural (Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Siskiyou, and Trinity Counties)
$2,000,000Supplemental
$80,743,338TOTAL

The funding order shall start with applications selected in rank order within each county/region in the order above. For an application to receive a CAA Federal Credit reservation, there shall be at least one dollar of Credit not yet reserved in the county/region allocation so long as the county/region's last award does not cause the county/region aggregate award amount to exceed 105 percent (105%) of the amount originally available for that county/region. CAA Federal Credit allocated in excess of the county/region's allocation by the application of the 105% rule described above will be deducted from the Supplemental allocation. If the last application selected requires credits in excess of 105% of the county/region's allocation, that application will not be funded. Any CAA Federal Credit remaining in a county/region apportionment at the end of a funding round will be available in the subsequent round. For the final funding round of 2022 for CAA Federal Credits, if the aggregate amount of Federal Credit requested does not exceed the amount available, the 105% county limit above shall not apply. If all CAA Federal Credit in a funding round has been awarded, all remaining CAA applications shall compete in the applicable set-aside or geographic region, provided the application meets the requirements of the set-aside or geographic region, and the requirements of Section 10325.

At the conclusion of the funding round, if less than 10% of the total CAA Federal Credit remains, all unallocated CAA Federal Credit within the county/region allocations will be combined and available to remaining projects requesting CAA Federal Credits, and which meet the threshold and underwriting requirements through a waiting list. The award selection will be made from the waiting list to the counties in order number of lost homes highest to lowest. Within each county, the award selection will start with the highest-ranking project located within a CAA or FCAA disaster area fire perimeter, as designated by CAL FIRE and available on the CTCAC website https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ctcac/ first and continue within that county in rank order until no eligible applications remain.

The CAA Federal Credit amount shall not be counted towards the set asides of Section 10315, the housing type goals of Section 10315(h), or the geographic apportionments of Section 10315(i). Applications for CAA Federal Credit shall not be counted towards the four (4) awards limit of Section 10325(c). Notwithstanding Section 10325(f)(9)(C), the maximum annual Federal Tax Credits available for award to any one project in any funding round applying for CAA Federal Credit shall not exceed Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000). Applications for CAA Federal Credit are not eligible for State Tax Credits.

(2) Geographic Areas selection. Tax Credits remaining following reservations to all set-asides shall be reserved to projects within the geographic areas, beginning with the geographic area having the smallest apportionment, and proceeding upward according to size in the first funding round and in reverse order in the second funding round. The funding order shall be followed by funding the highest scoring application, if any, in each of the regions. After each region has had the opportunity to fund one project, CTCAC shall award the second highest scoring project in each region, if any, and continue cycling through the regions, filling each geographic area's apportionment. Projects will be funded in order of their rank so long as the region's aggregate award amount does not exceed 125 percent (125%) of the amount originally available for that region in that funding round. Credits allocated in excess of the Geographic Apportionments by the application of the 125% rule described above will be drawn from the second-round apportionments during the first round, and from the Supplemental Set Aside during the second round. However, all Credits drawn from the Supplemental Set Aside will be deducted from the Apportionment in the subsequent round.

When the highest-ranking project or next highest-ranking project(s) do not meet the 125% rule then the Committee shall skip over that project to fund a project requesting a smaller credit award that does not exceed the 125% requirement. However, no project may be funded by this skipping process unless it (a) has a point score equal to that of the first project skipped, and (b) has a final tiebreaker score equal to at least 75% of the first skipped project's final tiebreaker score.

To the extent that there is a positive balance remaining in a geographic area after a funding round, such amount will be added to the amount available in that geographic area in the subsequent funding round. Similarly, to the extent that there is a deficit in a geographic area after a funding round, such amount will be subtracted from the funds available for reservation in the next funding round. Any unused credit from the geographic areas in the second funding round will be added back into the Supplemental Set-Aside. Tax credits reserved in all geographic areas shall be counted within the housing type goals.

(e) Application Evaluation. To receive a reservation of Tax Credits, applications selected pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section, shall be evaluated, pursuant to IRC Section 42, H & S Code Sections 50199.4 through 50199.22, R & T Code Sections 12206, 17058, and 23610.5, and these regulations to determine if; eligible, by meeting all program eligibility requirements; complete, which includes meeting all basic threshold and additional threshold requirements; and financially feasible. In scoring and evaluating project applications, the Executive Director shall have the discretion to interpret the intent of these regulations and to score and evaluate applications accordingly. Applicants understand that there is no "right" to receive Tax Credits under these regulations. The Committee shall make available to the general public a written explanation for any allocation of Tax Credits that is not made in accordance with the established priorities and selection criteria of these Regulations.

(f) Basic Thresholds. An application shall be determined to be complete by demonstration of meeting the following basic threshold requirements, among other tests. All basic thresholds shall be met at the time the application is filed through a presentation of conclusive, documented evidence to the Executive Director's satisfaction.

(1) Housing need and demand. Applicants shall provide evidence that the type of housing proposed, including proposed rent levels, is needed and affordable to the targeted population within the community in which it is located, with evidence including a market study that meets the current market study guidelines distributed by the Committee. Market studies will be assessed thoroughly. Meeting the requirements of subsection (B) below is essential, but because other elements of the market study will also be considered, meeting those requirements in subsection (B) will not in itself show adequate need and demand for a proposed project or ensure approval of a given project. Evidence shall be conclusive and include the most recent documentation available (prepared within one year of the application date and updated, if necessary). Evidence of housing need and demand shall include, but is not limited to:
(A) evidence of public housing waiting lists, by bedroom size and tenant type, if available, from the local housing authority; and

(B) except as provided in Section 10322(h)(10), a market study as described in Section 10322(h)(10) of these regulations, which provides evidence that:
(i) The proposed tenant paid rents for each affordable unit type in the proposed development will be at least ten percent (10%) below the weighted average rent for the same unit types in comparable market rate rental properties;

(ii) Except for special needs rehabilitation projects in which at least 90% of the total units are SRO units, the proposed unit value ratio stated as dollars per square foot ($/s.f.) will be no more than the weighted average unit value ratios for comparable market rate units;

(iii) In rural areas without sufficient three- and four- bedroom market rate rental comparables, the market study must show that in comparison to three- and four-bedroom market rate single family homes, the affordable rents will be at least 20% below the rents for single family homes and the $/s.f. ratio will not exceed that of the single family homes; and

(iv) The demand for the proposed project's units must appear strong enough to reach stabilized occupancy -- 90% occupancy for Special Needs projects and 95% for all other projects -- within six months of being placed in service for projects of 150 units or less, and within 12 months for projects of more than 150 units and senior projects.

(2) Demonstrated site control. Applicants shall provide evidence that the subject property is within the control of the applicant.
(A) Site control may be evidenced by:
(i) a current title report (within 90 days of application except as provided in Section 10322(h)(35) (or preliminary title report, but not title insurance or commitment to insure) showing the applicant holds fee title or, for tribal trust land, a title status report or an attorney's opinion regarding chain of title and current title status;

(ii) an executed lease agreement or lease option for the length of time the project will be regulated under this program connecting the applicant and the owner of the subject property;

(iii) an executed disposition and development agreement connecting the applicant and a public agency; or,

(iv) a valid, current, enforceable contingent purchase and sale agreement or option agreement connecting the applicant and the owner of the subject property. Evidence must be provided at the time of the application that all extensions and other conditions necessary to keep the agreement current through the application filing deadline have been executed.

(B) A current title report (within 90 days of application except as provided in Section 10322(h)(35) (or preliminary title report, but not title insurance or commitment to insure) or, for tribal trust land, a title status report or an attorney's opinion regarding chain of title and current title status, shall be submitted with all applications for purposes of this threshold requirement.

(C) The Executive Director may determine, in her/his sole discretion, that site control has been demonstrated where a local agency has demonstrated its intention to acquire the site, or portion of the site, through eminent domain proceedings.

(3) Enforceable financing commitment. Applicants shall provide evidence of enforceable financing commitments for at least fifty percent (50%) of the acquisition and construction financing, or at least fifty percent (50%) of the permanent financing, of the proposed project's estimated total acquisition and construction or total permanent financing requirements. An "enforceable financing commitment" must:
(A) be in writing, stating rate and terms, and in the form of a loan, grant or an approval of the assignment/assumption of existing debt by the mortgagee;

(B) be subject only to conditions within the control of the applicant, but for obtaining other financing sources including an award of Tax Credits;

(C) have a term of at least fifteen (15) years if it is permanent financing;

(D) demonstrate feasibility for fifteen (15) years at the underwriting interest rate, if it is a variable or adjustable interest rate permanent loan; and,

(E) be executed by a lender other than a mortgage broker, the applicant, or an entity with an identity of interest with the applicant, unless the applicant is a lending institution actively and regularly engaged in residential lending; and

(F) be accepted in writing by the proposed mortgagor or grantee, if private financing.

Substitution of such funds after a Reservation of Tax Credits may be permitted only when the source of funding is similar to that of the original funding, for example, use of a bank loan to substitute for another bank loan, or public funds for other public funds. General Partner loans or developer loans must be accompanied by documented proof of funds being available at the time of application. In addition, General Partner or developer loans to the project are unique, and may not be substituted for or foregone if committed to within the application. After a Reservation of Tax Credits an applicant may substitute Affordable Housing Program (AHP) funds provided pursuant to a program of the Federal Home Loan Bank for any other source.

Projects awarded under a Nonprofit set-aside homeless assistance priority or a Rural set-aside RHS, HOME, or CDBG-DR apportionment pursuant to a funding commitment may not substitute other funds for this commitment after application to CTCAC. Failure to retain the funding may result in an award of negative points.

For projects using FHA-insured debt, the submission of a letter from a Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) lender stating that they have underwritten the project and that it meets the requirements for submittal of a multifamily accelerated processing firm commitment application to HUD.

(4) Local approvals and Zoning. Applicants shall provide evidence, at the time the application is filed, that the project as proposed is zoned for the intended use, and has obtained all applicable local land use approvals which allow the discretion of local elected officials to be applied, except that an appeal period may run 30 days beyond that application due date. Examples of such approvals include, but are not limited to, general plan amendments, rezonings, and conditional use permits. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this subsection, local land use approvals not required to be obtained at the time of application include, design review, initial environmental study assessments, variances, and development agreements.

The evidence must describe the local approval process, the applicable approvals, and whether each required approval is "by right," ministerial, or discretionary. When the appeal period, if any, is concluded, the applicant must provide proof that either no appeals were filed, or that any appeals filed during that time period were resolved within that 30-day period and the project is ready to proceed.

The Committee may require, as evidence to meet this requirement, submission of a Committee-provided form letter to be signed by an appropriate local government planning official of the applicable local jurisdiction, including acknowledgment of any zoning or land use approvals pursuant to a state streamlined approval requirement.

(5) Financial feasibility. Applicants shall provide the financing plan for the proposed project, and shall demonstrate the proposed project is financially feasible and viable as a qualified low income housing project throughout the extended use period. A fifteen-year pro forma of all revenue and expense projections, starting as of the planned placed in service date for new construction projects, and as of the rehabilitation completion date for acquisition/rehabilitation projects, is required. The financial feasibility analysis shall use all underwriting criteria specified in Section 10327 of these regulations.

(6) Sponsor characteristics. Applicants shall provide evidence that proposed project participants, as a Development Team, possess all of the knowledge, skills, experience and financial capacity to successfully develop, own and operate the proposed project. The Committee may conduct an investigation into an applicant's background that it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, and may determine if any of the evidence provided shall disqualify the applicant from participating in the Credit programs, or if additional Development Team members need be added to appropriately perform all program requirements.

(7) Minimum construction standards. For preliminary reservation applications, applicants shall provide a statement that the following minimum specifications will be incorporated into the project design for all new construction and rehabilitation projects. In addition, a statement shall commit the property owner to at least maintaining the applicable Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24) adopted by the California Energy Commission (CEC) as well as maintaining the installed energy efficiency and sustainability features' quality when replacing each of the following listed systems or materials:
(A) Energy Efficiency. All rehabilitated buildings, both competitive and non-competitive, shall have improved energy efficiency above the modeled energy consumption of the building(s) based on existing conditions documented using the Sustainable Building Method Workbook's CTCAC Existing Multifamily Assessment Protocols and reported using the CTCAC Existing Multifamily Assessment Report template. Rehabilitated buildings shall document at least a 10% post-rehabilitation improvement over existing conditions energy efficiency achieved for the project as a whole, except that Scattered Site applications shall also document at least a 5% post-rehabilitation improvement over existing conditions energy efficiency achieved for each site. In the case of projects in which energy efficiency improvements have been completed within five years prior to the application date pursuant to a public or regulated utility program or other governmental program that established existing conditions of the systems being replaced using a HERS Rater, the applicant may include the existing conditions of those systems prior to the improvements. Furthermore, rehabilitation applicants must submit a completed Sustainable Building Method Workbook with their placed-in-service application unless they are developing a project in accordance with the minimum requirements of Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), Passive House, Living Building Challenge, National Green Building Standard ICC / ASRAE - 700 silver or higher rating or GreenPoint Rated Program.

(B) Landscaping. If landscaping is to be provided or replaced, a variety of plant and tree species that require low water use shall be provided in sufficient quantities based on landscaping practices in the general market area and low maintenance needs. Projects shall follow the requirements of the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/landscapeordinance/) unless a local landscape ordinance has been determined to be at least as stringent as the current model ordinance.

(C) Roofs. Newly installed roofing shall carry a three-year subcontractor guarantee and at least a 20-year manufacturer's warranty.

(D) Exterior doors. If exterior doors are to be provided or replaced, insulated or solid core, flush, paint or stain grade exterior doors shall be made of metal clad, hardwood faces, or fiberglass faces, with a standard one-year guarantee and all six sides primed.

(E) Appliances. All Low-Income Units shall provide a refrigerator. All non-SRO Low-Income Units shall provide a range (cooktop and oven), and all SRO Low-Income Units shall include a cooking facility (at least a cooktop or microwave). The Executive Director may waive the refrigerator and cooking facility requirement for SRO units if the project includes a common area kitchen facility for tenants. Refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers provided or replaced within Low-Income Units and/or in on-site community facilities shall be ENERGY STAR rated appliances, unless waived by the Executive Director.

(F) Window coverings. Window coverings shall be provided and may include fire retardant drapes or blinds.

(G) Water heater. If water heaters are to be provided or replaced, for Low-Income Units with individual tank-type water heaters, minimum capacities are to be 28 gallons for one- and two-bedroom units and 38 gallons for three-bedroom units or larger.

(H) Floor coverings. If floor coverings are to be provided or replaced, a hard, water resistant, cleanable surface shall be required for all kitchen and bath areas. Any carpet provided or replaced shall comply with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Federal Housing Administration UM44D.

(I) All fiberglass-based insulation provided or replaced shall meet the Greenguard Gold Certification (http://greenguard.org/en/Certification-Programs/CertificationPrograms_childrenSchools.aspx).

(J) Consistent with California State law, projects with 16 or more Low-Income and Market-Rate Units must have an on-site manager's unit. Projects with at least 161 Low-Income and Market-Rate Units shall provide a second on-site manager's unit for either another on-site manager or other maintenance personnel, and there shall be one additional on-site manager's unit for either another on-site manager or other maintenance personnel for each 80 Low-Income and Market-Rate Units beyond 161 units, up to a maximum of four on-site manager's units. Scattered site projects totaling 16 or more Low-Income and Market-Rate Units must have at least one on-site manager's unit for the entire project, and at least one manager's unit at each site where that site's building(s) consist of 16 or more Low-Income and Market-Rate Units.

Scattered sites within 100 yards of each other shall be treated as a single site for purposes of the on-site manager rule only.

If an applicant or project owner proposes to utilize a low-income unit to meet California and CTCAC manager unit requirements, the following applies:

(1) the unit is considered a low-income restricted unit and must comply with all requirements associated with low-income restricted units;

(2) the unit is included in the applicable fraction; and

(3) the tenant cannot be evicted upon employment termination. If employment is terminated, the project owner is responsible for continuing to meet California and CTCAC onsite manager unit requirements. Any application proposing to utilize a low-income unit to meet California and CTCAC manager unit requirements must include a description in the application of how the project will meet those requirements if employment is terminated.

In lieu of on-site manager units, a project may commit to employ an equivalent number of on-site full-time property management staff (at least one of whom is a property manager) and provide an equivalent number of desk or security staff who are not tenants and are capable of responding to emergencies for the hours when property management staff is not working. All staff or contractors performing desk or security work shall be knowledgeable of how the property's fire system operates and be trained in, and have participated in, fire evacuation drills for tenants. CTCAC reserves the right to require that one or more on-site managers' units be provided and occupied by property management staff if, in its sole discretion, it determines as part of any on-site inspection that the project has not been adequately operated and/or maintained.

(K) All new construction projects shall adhere to the provisions of California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 11(B) regarding accessibility to privately owned housing made available for public use in all respects except as follows: instead of the minimum requirements established in 11B 233.3.1.1 and 11B 233.3.1.3, all new construction projects must provide a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the Low-Income Units with mobility features, as defined in CBC 11B 809.2 through 11B 809.4, and a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the Low-Income Units with communications features, as defined in CBC 11B 809.5. These units shall, to the maximum extent feasible and subject to reasonable health and safety requirements, be distributed throughout the project consistent with 24 CFR Section 8.26.

Rehabilitation projects shall provide a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the Low-Income Units with mobility features, as defined in CBC 11B 809.2 through 11B 809.4, and four percent (4%) with communications features, as defined in CBC 11B 809.5. To the maximum extent feasible and subject to reasonable health and safety requirements, these units shall be distributed throughout the project consistent with 24 CFR Section 8.26. At least one of each common area facility type and amenity, as well as paths of travel between accessible units and such facilities and amenities, the building entry and public right of way, and the leasing office or area shall also be made accessible utilizing CBC Chapter 11(B) as a design standard. In all other respects, applicable building code will apply. Projects with particular federal, state, or local funding sources may be required to meet additional accessibility requirements related to these other sources.

Except for paragraph (J) and (K), if a rehabilitation applicant does not propose to meet the requirements of this subsection, its Capital Needs Assessment must show that the standards not proposed to be met are either unnecessary or excessively expensive. The Executive Director may approve a waiver to paragraph (J) for a new construction or rehabilitation project, provided that tenants will have equivalent access to management services. The Executive Director may approve a waiver to paragraph (K) for a rehabilitation project, provided that the applicant and architect demonstrate that full compliance would be impractical or create an undue financial burden and not in conflict with federal or state law. All waivers must be approved in advance by the Executive Director.

Compliance and Verification: For placed-in-service applications, applicants with rehabilitation projects, with the exception of applicants developing a project in accordance with the minimum requirements of LEED, PHIUS, Passive House, Living Building Challenge, National Green Building Standard ICC / ASRAE - 700 silver or higher rating, or GreenPoint Rated Program must submit a completed Sustainable Building Method Workbook for subsection (A). For subsections (B) through (I) applicants shall submit LEED, PHIUS, Passive House, Living Building Challenge, National Green Building Standard ICC / ASRAE - 700 silver or higher rating, or GreenPoint Rated Program certification or third party certification confirming compliance from one of the following: a certified HERS Rater, a certified GreenPoint rater, a US Green Building Council certification, or the project architect. For Subsection (K), the project architect shall provide third party documentation confirming compliance. Failure to produce appropriate and acceptable third party documentation may result in negative points.

(8) Deferred-payment financing, residual receipts payment financing, grants and subsidies. Applicants shall provide evidence that all deferred-payment financing, residual receipts payment financing, grants and subsidies shown in the application are "committed" at the time of application.
(A) Evidence provided shall signify the form of the commitment, the loan, grant or subsidy amount, the length of the commitment, conditions of participation, and express authorization from the governing body, or an official expressly authorized to act on behalf of said governing body, committing the funds, as well as the applicant's acceptance in the case of privately committed loans.

(B) Commitments shall be final and not preliminary, and only subject to conditions within the control of the applicant, with one exception, the attainment of other financing sources including an award of Tax Credits.

(C) Fund commitments shall be from funds within the control of the entity providing the commitment at the time of application.

(D) Substantiating evidence of the value of local fee waivers, exemptions or land write-downs is required.

(E) Substitution or an increase of such funds after a Reservation of Tax Credits may be permitted only when the source of funding is similar to the original funding, for example, private loan to substitute for private loan, public funds for public funds. AHP funds may be substituted for any funding source after a Reservation of Tax Credits if an AHP commitment is obtained after the TCAC application due date.

(F) A project is exempt from the provisions of this subsection if it has funds anticipated and publicly published with provisional awardee names but not yet officially awarded in the capacity required above with the following entities that administer multifamily financing programs: the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD); Strategic Growth Council (SGC); Affordable Housing Program (AHP) provided pursuant to a program of the Federal Home Loan Bank; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service (RHS) Section 514, 515 or 538 programs; the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); a Reservation of HOME or CDBG-DR funds from the applicable participating jurisdiction.

(9) Project size and credit amount limitations. Project size limitations shall apply to all applications filed, pursuant to this Section.
(A) Rural set-aside applications shall be limited to a maximum of eighty (80) Low-Income Units.

Rehabilitation proposals are excepted from this limitation. The Executive Director may grant a waiver if she or he determines that the rural community is unusual in size or proximity to a nearby urban center and that exceptional demand exists within the market area.

(B) The total "units" in one or more separate applications, filed by Related Parties, proposing projects within one-fourth ( 1/4) mile of one another, filed at any time within a twelve (12) month period, shall, for purposes of this subsection be subject to the above project size limitations, except when specifically waived by the Executive Director in unusual circumstances such as HOPE VI or large neighborhood redevelopment proposals pursuant to a specific neighborhood plan. HOPE VI and other large projects will generally be directed towards the tax-exempt bond program.

(C) The maximum annual Federal Tax Credits available for award to any one project in any funding round shall not exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand ($2,500,000) Dollars.

(10) Projects applying for competitive Tax Credits and involving rehabilitation of existing buildings shall be required to complete, at a minimum, the higher of $40,000 in hard construction costs per unit or 20% of the adjusted basis of the building pursuant to IRC Section 42(e)(3)(A)(ii)(I).

(11)
(A) Existing tax credit projects applying for a new reservation of tax credits for acquisition and/or rehabilitation (i.e., resyndication) shall maintain the rents and income targeting levels in the existing regulatory contract for the duration of the new regulatory contract. If the project has exhibited negative cash flow for at least each of the last three years or within the next five years will lose a rental or operating subsidy that was factored into the project's initial feasibility, the Executive Director may alter this requirement, provided that the new rents and income targeting levels shall be as low as possible to maintain project feasibility. In addition, the Executive Director may approve a reduction in the number of units for purposes of unrestricting a manager's unit, adding or increasing service or community space, or for adding bathrooms and kitchens to SRO units, provided that the existing rent and income targeting remain proportional.

(B) If the regulatory agreement for an existing tax credit project applying for a new reservation of tax credits for acquisition and/or rehabilitation (i.e., resyndication) contains a requirement to provide service amenities, even if that requirement has expired, the project shall provide a similar or greater level of services for a period of at least 15 years under the new regulatory agreement. A project obtaining maximum CTCAC points for services shall be deemed to have met this requirement. If the project has exhibited cash flow of less than $20,000 for at least each of the last three years, will have no hard debt and fail to break even in year 15 with services, or within the next five years will lose a rental or operating subsidy that was factored into the project's initial feasibility, the Executive Director may alter this requirement, provided that the service expenditures shall be the maximum that project feasibility allows.

(C) For existing tax credit projects applying for a new reservation of tax credits for acquisition and/or rehabilitation (i.e., resyndication), the pre-rehabilitation reserve study in the CNA shall demonstrate a rehabilitation need of at least $5,000 per unit over the first three years. Projects for which the Executive Director has waived the requirements of Section 10320(b)(4) and projects with ten years or less remaining on the CTCAC regulatory agreement are exempt from this requirement.

(D) Existing tax credit projects applying for a new reservation of tax credits for acquisition and/or rehabilitation (i.e., resyndication) shall not have any uncorrected compliance violations relating to over-income tenants or rent overcharges and shall not have any unpaid fines pursuant to Section 10337(f).

(12) CTCAC shall not accept an application from any party that is disqualified from applying to CDLAC.

(13) A project that includes Low-Income Units targeted at greater than 60% AMI shall have average targeting that does not exceed 50% AMI.

A project with a tax credit reservation dated prior to, or a submitted application pending as of, March 26, 2018 may, with the discretionary approval of the Executive Director, revise its targeting prior to the recordation of the regulatory agreement to include Low-Income Units targeted at greater than 60% AMI only to accommodate existing over-income tenants, provided that the average targeting does not exceed 50% AMI.

A project including Low-Income Units targeted at greater than 60% AMI shall make the "Yes" election on line 8b of the IRS Form 8609.

(g) Additional Threshold Requirements. To qualify for Tax Credits as a Housing Type as described in Section 10315(h), to receive points as a housing type, or to be considered a "complete" application, the application shall meet the following additional threshold requirements. A scattered site more than 1 mile from the nearest other site shall meet the requirements related to common areas, play/recreational facilities, and laundry facilities independently.

(1) Large Family projects. To be considered large family housing, the application shall meet the following additional threshold requirements.
(A) At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Low-Income Units in the project shall be three-bedroom or larger units, and for projects that receive land use entitlements on or after January 1, 2016 at least an additional twenty-five percent (25%) of the Low-Income Units in the project shall be two-bedroom or larger units, except that for projects qualifying for and applying under the At-risk set-aside, the Executive Director may grant a waiver from this requirement if the applicant shows that it would be cost prohibitive to comply;

(B) One-bedroom Low-Income Units must include at least 450 square feet and two-bedroom Low-Income Units must include at least 700 square feet of living space. Three-bedroom Low-Income Units shall include at least 900 square feet of living space and four-bedroom Low-Income Units shall include at least 1,100 square feet of living space, unless these restrictions conflict with the requirements of another governmental agency to which the project is subject to approval. These limits may be waived for rehabilitation projects, at the discretion of the Executive Director prior to the application submission. Bedrooms shall be large enough to accommodate two persons each and living areas shall be adequately sized to accommodate families based on two persons per bedroom;

(C) Four-bedroom and larger Low-Income Units shall have a minimum of two full bathrooms;

(D) The project shall provide play/recreational facilities suitable and available to all tenants, including children of all ages, except for small developments of 20 units or fewer. Play/recreational area for children ages 2-12 years shall be outdoors, and the minimum square footage is 600 square feet and must include an accessible entrance point. For projects with more than 100 total units this square footage shall be increased by 5 square feet for each additional unit. Outdoor play/recreational space must be equipped with reasonable play equipment for the size of the project, and the surface must be natural or synthetic protective material. The outdoor play area of an onsite day care center may qualify as play area for children 2-12 years for purposes of this section if it is available to children when the day care center is not open. The application must demonstrate the availability of play or recreational facilities suitable for children ages 13-17. Square footage of a community building cannot be included for the play/recreational area for children ages 13-17 unless that square footage is accessible to minors at all times between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. except when the area is reserved for service amenities or special events.

Rehabilitation projects with existing outdoor play/recreational facilities may request a waiver of the minimum square footage requirement if outdoor play/recreational facilities of a reasonable size and type currently exist onsite. An existing project without outdoor play/recreational facilities may request a waiver from this requirement if the site is classified as a non-conforming use under its respective current zoning designation and the addition of the new facilities would trigger an entitlement process. The written waiver must be approved prior to the application submission.

The Executive Director has the sole discretion to waive this requirement upon demonstration of nearby, readily accessible, recreational facilities;

(E) The project shall provide an appropriately sized common areas. For purposes of this part, common areas shall include all interior amenity space, such as the rental office, community room, service space, computer labs, and gym, but shall not include laundry rooms or manager living units. Common areas shall meet the following size requirement: projects comprised of 30 or less total units, at least 600 square feet; projects from 31 to 60 total units, at least 1000 square feet; projects from 61 to 100 total units, at least 1400 square feet; projects over 100 total units, at least 1800 square feet. Small developments of 20 units or fewer are exempt from this requirement. At the discretion of the Executive Director, these limits may be waived for rehabilitation projects with existing common area prior to the application submission. An existing project without common area may request a waiver from this requirement if the site is classified as a non-conforming use under its respective current zoning designation and the addition of the new facilities would trigger an entitlement process;

(F) A public agency shall provide direct or indirect long-term financial support for at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total project development costs, or the owner's equity (includes syndication proceeds) shall constitute at least thirty percent (30%) of the total project development costs;

(G) Adequate laundry facilities shall be available on the project premises, with at least one washer and one dryer for every 10 units in the project. This requirement shall be reduced by 25% for projects where all units in the project include hook-ups for washers and dryers. To the extent that tenants will be charged for the use of central laundry facilities, washers and dryers must be excluded from eligible basis. If no centralized laundry facilities are provided, washers and dryers shall be provided in each unit in the project;

(H) Dishwashers shall be provided in all Low-Income Units except for studio and SRO units. A waiver for one and two bedroom units in rehabilitation projects may be granted at the sole discretion of the Executive Director due to planning or financial impracticality;

(I) Projects are subject to a minimum low-income use period of 55 years (50 years for projects located on tribal trust land).

(2) Senior projects. To be considered senior housing, the application shall meet the following additional threshold requirements;
(A) All units shall be restricted to households eligible under applicable provisions of California Civil Code Section 51.3 and the federal Fair Housing Act, and further be subject to state and federal fair housing laws with respect to senior housing;

(B) For new construction projects, one half of all Low-Income Units on an accessible path (ground floor and elevator-serviced) shall be mobility accessible under the provisions of California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 11(B). For rehabilitation projects, 25% of all Low-Income Units on an accessible path (ground floor and elevator-serviced) shall be mobility accessible under the provisions of CBC Chapter 11(B). All projects with elevators must comply with CBC Chapter 11(B) accessibility requirements for elevators. All project owners must provide adequate and visible notice to tenants of their ability to request conversion of their adaptable unit to an accessible unit. These units shall, to the maximum extent feasible and subject to reasonable health and safety requirements, be distributed throughout the project consistent with 24 CFR Section 8.26. The Executive Director may approve a waiver in advance for a rehabilitation project, provided that the applicant and architect demonstrate that full compliance would be impractical or create an undue financial burden;

(C) Buildings over two stories shall have an elevator;

(D) No more than twenty percent (20%) of the Low-Income Units in the project shall be larger than one-bedroom units, unless waived by the Executive Director, when supported by a full market study;

(E) One-bedroom Low-Income Units must include at least 450 square feet and two-bedroom Low-Income Units must include at least 700 square feet of living space. These limits may be waived for rehabilitation projects, at the discretion of the Executive Director, prior to application submission;

(F) Emergency call systems shall only be required in units intended for occupancy by frail elderly populations requiring assistance with activities of daily living, and/or applying as special needs units. When required, they shall provide 24-hour monitoring, unless an alternative monitoring system is approved by the Executive Director;

(G) Common areas shall be provided on site, or within approximately one-half mile of the subject property. For purposes of this part, common areas shall include all interior amenity space, such as the rental office, community room, service space, computer labs, and gym, but shall not include laundry rooms or manager living units. Common areas shall meet the following size requirement: projects comprised of 30 or less total units, at least 600 square feet; projects from 31 to 60 total units, at least 1,000 square feet; projects from 61 to 100 total units, at least 1,400 square feet; projects over 100 total units, at least 1,800 square feet. Small developments of 20 units or fewer are exempt from this requirement. These limits may be waived, at the discretion of the Executive Director, for rehabilitation projects with existing common area;

(H) A public agency shall provide direct or indirect long-term financial support for at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total project development costs, or the owner's equity (includes syndication proceeds) shall constitute at least thirty percent (30%) of the total project development costs;

(I) Adequate laundry facilities shall be available on the project premises, with at least one washer and one dryer for every 15 units in the project. This requirement shall be reduced by 25% for projects where all units in the project include hook-ups for washers and dryers. To the extent that tenants will be charged for the use of central laundry facilities, washers and dryers must be excluded from eligible basis. If no centralized laundry facilities are provided, washers and dryers shall be provided in each of the units in the project;

(J) Projects are subject to a minimum low-income use period of 55 years (50 years for projects located on tribal trust land).

(3) Special Needs projects. To be considered Special Needs housing, at least 45% of the Low-Income Units in the project shall serve populations that meet one of the following: are individuals living with physical or sensory disabilities and transitioning from hospitals, nursing homes, development centers, or other care facilities; individuals living with developmental or mental health disabilities; individuals who are survivors of physical abuse; individuals who are homeless as described in Section 10315(b); individuals with chronic illness, including HIV; homeless youth as defined in Government Code Section 12957(e)(2); families in the child welfare system for whom the absence of housing is a barrier to family reunification, as certified by a county; or another specific group determined by the Executive Director to meet the intent of this housing type. The Executive Director shall have sole discretion in determining whether or not an application meets these requirements. A development that is less than 75% special needs shall meet one of the following criteria:
(i) the non-special needs Low-Income Units meet the large family, senior, or SRO housing type requirements; or

(ii) the non-special needs Low-Income Units consist of at least 20% one-bedroom units and at least 10% larger than one-bedroom units. The application shall meet the following additional threshold requirements:
(A) Average targeted income for the special needs units is no more than forty percent (40%) of the area median income;

(B) The units/building configurations (including community space) shall meet the specific needs of the population, including kitchen needs for SRO units without full kitchens;

(C) If the project does not have a public rental or operating subsidy committed for all special needs units, the applicant shall demonstrate for these unsubsidized units that the target population(s) will not experience rent overburden, as supported by the market study. Rent overburden means the targeted rent is more than 30% of the target population(s) income;

(D) A public agency shall provide direct or indirect long-term financial support for at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total project development costs, or the owner's equity (includes syndication proceeds) shall constitute at least thirty percent (30%) of the total project development costs;

(E) Adequate laundry facilities shall be available on the project premises, with at least one washer and one dryer for every 15 units in the project. This requirement shall be reduced by 25% for projects where all units in the project include hook-ups for washers and dryers;

(F) Projects are subject to a minimum low-income use period of 55 years (50 years for projects located on tribal trust land);

(G) One-bedroom Low-Income Units must include at least 450 square feet, and two-bedroom Low-Income Units must include at least 700 square feet of living space. Three-bedroom Low-Income Units shall include at least 900 square feet of living space. These bedroom and size requirements may be waived for rehabilitation projects or for projects that received entitlements prior to January 1, 2016 at the discretion of the Executive Director;

(H) SRO units (as defined in Section 10302) are efficiency units that may include a complete private bath and kitchen but generally do not have a separate bedroom, unless the configuration of an already existing building being proposed to be used for an SRO dictates otherwise. The minimum size for SRO Low-Income Units shall be 200 square feet, and the size shall not exceed 500 square feet. These bedroom and size requirements may be waived for rehabilitation projects or for projects that received entitlements prior to January 1, 2016 at the discretion of the Executive Director. A project that includes SRO units without complete private baths shall provide at least one bath for every eight SRO units;

(I) A signed contract or memorandum of understanding between the developer and the service provider must accompany the Tax Credit application; and

(J) A preliminary service plan that specifically identifies: the service needs of the projects special needs population; the organization(s) that would be providing the services to the residents; the services to be provided to the special needs population; how the services would support resident stability and any other service plan objectives; a preliminary budget displaying anticipated income and expenses associated with the services program. The Executive Director shall, in his/her sole discretion, determine whether the plan is adequate to qualify the project as a special needs project.

(K) If the project will be operated as senior housing pursuant to fair housing laws, then the project shall have an elevator for any building over two stories and shall meet the accessibility requirements of Section 10325(g)(2)(B).

(L) With respect to Special Needs units designated for individuals who are homeless, owners, property managers, and service providers shall comply with the core components of Housing First, as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code Section 8255(b).

(4) At-risk projects. To be considered At-risk housing, the application shall meet the requirements of R & T Code subsection 17058(c)(4), except as further defined in subsection (B)(i) below, as well as the following additional threshold requirements, and other requirements as outlined in this subsection:
(A) Projects are subject to a minimum low-income use period of 55 years (50 years for projects located on tribal trust land); and

(B) Project application eligibility criteria include:
(i) before applying for Tax Credits, the project must meet the At-risk eligibility requirements under the terms of applicable federal and state law as verified by a third party legal opinion, except that a project that has been acquired by a qualified nonprofit organization within the past five years of the date of application with interim financing in order to preserve its affordability and that meets all other requirements of this section, shall be eligible to be considered an "at-risk" project under these regulations. A project application will not qualify in this category unless it is determined by the Committee that the project is at-risk of losing affordability on at least 50% of the restricted units due to market or other conditions. A project will not be deemed at-risk of losing affordability if the project is subject to a rent restriction with a remaining term of at least five years that restricts incomes and rents on the restricted units to an average no greater than 60% of area median income;

(ii) the project, as verified by a third-party legal opinion, unless the exception in B(i) above applies, must currently possess or have had within the past five years from the date of application, either:

* federal mortgage insurance, a federal loan guarantee, federal project-based rental assistance, or, have its mortgage held by a federal agency, or be owned by a federal agency; or

* loans or grants program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD); or

* be currently subject to, or have been subject to, within five years preceding the application deadline, the later of Federal or State Housing Tax Credit restrictions whose compliance period is expiring or has expired within the last five years and at least 50% of whose units are not subject to any other rental restrictions beyond the term of the Tax Credit restrictions; or

* be currently subject to, or have been subject to, within five years preceding the application deadline, California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) bond regulatory agreement restrictions whose compliance period is expiring or has expired within the last five years and at least 50% of whose units are not subject to any other rental restrictions beyond the term of the CDLAC restrictions;

(iii) as of the date of application filing, the applicant shall have sought available federal incentives to continue the project as low-income housing, including, direct loans, loan forgiveness, grants, rental subsidies, renewal of existing rental subsidy contracts, etc.;

(iv) subsidy contract expiration, mortgage prepayment eligibility, or the expiration of Housing Tax Credit restrictions, as verified by a third party legal opinion, shall occur no later than five calendar years after the year in which the application is filed, except in cases where a qualified nonprofit organization acquired the property within the terms of (i) above and would otherwise meet this condition but for:
1) long-term use restrictions imposed by public agencies as a condition of their acquisition financing; or

2) HAP contract renewals secured by the qualified nonprofit organization for the maximum term available subsequent to acquisition;

(v) the applicant agrees to renew all project based rental subsidies (such as Section 8 HAP or Section 521 rental assistance contracts) for the maximum term available and shall seek additional renewals throughout the project's useful life, if applicable;

(vi) at least seventy percent (70%) of project tenants shall, at the time of application, have incomes at or below sixty percent (60%) of area median income;

(vii) the gap between total development costs (excluding developer fee), and all loans and grants to the project (excluding Tax Credit proceeds) must be greater than fifteen percent (15%) of total development costs; and,

(viii) a public agency shall provide direct or indirect long-term financial support of at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total project development costs, or the owner's equity (includes syndication proceeds) shall constitute at least thirty percent (30%) of the total project development cost.

(5) SRO projects. To be considered Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing, the application shall meet the following additional threshold requirements:
(A) Average targeted income is no more than forty percent (40%) of the area median income;

(B) At least 90% of all units shall be SRO units (as defined in Section 10302). SRO units are efficiency or studio units that may include a complete private bath and kitchen but generally do not have a separate bedroom, unless the configuration of an already existing building being proposed to be used for an SRO dictates otherwise. The minimum size for SRO units shall be 200 square feet, and the size shall not exceed 500 square feet. These bedroom size requirements may be waived for rehabilitation projects, at the discretion of the Executive Director;

(C) At least one bath shall be provided for every eight units;

(D) If the project does not have a public rental or operating subsidy committed for all SRO units, the applicant shall demonstrate for these unsubsidized units that the target population(s) will not experience rent overburden, as supported by the market study. Rent overburden means the targeted rent is more than 30% of the target population(s) income;

(E) The project configuration, including community space and kitchen facilities, shall meet the needs of the population, and comply with Section 10325(f)(7)(E);

(F) A public agency shall provide direct or indirect long-term financial support for at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total project development costs, or the owner's equity (includes syndication proceeds) shall constitute at least thirty percent (30%) of the total development cost;

(G) Adequate laundry facilities shall be available on the project premises, with at least one washer and one dryer for every 15 units. This requirement shall be reduced by 25% for projects where all units in the project include hook-ups for washers and dryers;

(H) Projects are subject to a minimum low-income use period of 55 years (50 years for projects located on tribal trust land);

(I) A ten percent (10%) vacancy rate shall be used unless otherwise approved by the Executive Director. Justification of a lower rate shall be included;

(J) New construction projects for seniors shall not qualify as SRO housing.

(h) Waiting List. At the conclusion of the last reservation cycle of any calendar year, and at no other time, the Committee may establish a Waiting List of pending applications in anticipation of utilizing any Tax Credits that may be returned to the Committee, and/or that have not been allocated to projects with the Set-Asides or Geographic Regions for which they were intended. The Waiting List shall expire at midnight on December 31 of the year the list is established. During periods without awaiting list, complete credit awards returned by successful geographic apportionment competitors shall be returned to the apportionment of origin.

Staff shall score, rank and evaluate applications on the Waiting List and make selections from the Waiting List as follows:

(1) If Credits are fully returned from projects originally funded under Set-Asides or Geographic Apportionments, applications qualifying under the same Set-Aside or Geographic Region will be selected in the order of their ranking. With respect to such a Set-Aside, one or more projects shall receive a reservation until all Credits in the Set-Aside are reserved. With respect to such Geographic Regions in which credits remain available, projects will be funded in order of their rank so long as the region's last award does not cause the region's aggregate award amount to exceed 125 percent (125%) of the amount originally available for that region in that funding round. When the next highest-ranking project does not meet the 125% rule, the Committee shall not fund a project requesting a smaller credit award.

(2) Next, Waiting List projects in Set Asides or Geographic Apportionments that are not yet fully subscribed will be selected from the Waiting List for reservations. These will be selected first from the Set Asides in order of their funding sequence, and then from the Geographic Apportionments in the order of the highest to the lowest percentage by which each Apportionment is undersubscribed. (This will be calculated by dividing the unreserved Tax Credits in the apportionment by the total Apportionment.)

(3) Finally, after all Set-Asides and Geographic Apportionments for the current year have been achieved, or if no further projects are available for such reservations, the unallocated Tax Credits will be used for projects selected from the Waiting List, in the order of their score and tie breaker performance ranking, without regard to Set-Aside or Geographic Region. All Waiting List project reservations, except for Rural projects, will be counted toward the projects' Geographic Apportionments.

(4) If there are not sufficient federal Tax Credits to fully fund the next ranked application on the Waiting List, a reservation of all remaining federal Tax Credits and a binding commitment of the following year federal Tax Credits may be made to that application.

(i) Carry forward of Tax Credits. Pursuant to Federal and state statutes, the Committee may carry forward any unused Tax Credits or Tax Credits returned to the Committee for allocation in the next calendar year.

Note: Authority cited: Section 50199.17, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 12206, 17058 and 23610.5, Revenue and Taxation Code; and Sections 50199.4, 50199.5, 50199.6, 50199.7, 50199.8, 50199.9, 50199.10, 50199.11, 50199.12, 50199.13, 50199.14, 50199.15, 50199.16, 50199.17, 50199.18, 50199.20, 50199.21 and 50199.22, Health and Safety Code.

Note: Authority cited: Section 50199.17, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 12206, 17058 and 23610.5, Revenue and Taxation Code; and Sections 50199.4, 50199.5, 50199.6, 50199.7, 50199.8, 50199.9, 50199.10, 50199.11, 50199.12, 50199.13, 50199.14, 50199.15, 50199.16, 50199.17, 50199.18, 50199.20, 50199.21 and 50199.22, Health and Safety Code.

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