Co-Living and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Co-Living Standards

The City seeks to create more opportunity for housing affordable to families making 30% of Area Median Income. Single Room Occupancy (SRO) or co-living housing can provide deeply affordable dwellings to help meet this need. SROs can also expand the variety of housing types that are available to Bloomington residents. This project will involve studying SROs or co-living from a zoning and regulatory perspective. This study will be shared with the Planning Commission, HRA, and City Council to determine next steps. Future action could include drafting Code amendments to refine how SROs are developed and regulated in Bloomington. This project was included in the adopted 2024 Planning Commission Work Plan.

The Planning Commission reviewed the initial findings of the study at their June 20th, 2024 regular meeting. The staff report and presentation slides from the 06/20/24 meeting are available in the key documents tab on the right, and the meeting video is also available for viewing. The Planning Commission provided initial guidance on the topic. Staff also presented to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board at their regular meeting on June 25, 2024. The initial research and recommendations were presented to the City Council on July 15, 2024, the meeting video for which is also available for viewing.

Staff will now prepare draft City Code amendments for subsequent Planning Commission and City Council review as part of subsequent study sessions. Once a draft ordinance or standards are prepared and ready for public review, these documents will be added to the project page. A concurrent meeting with the Planning Commission and HRA Board is scheduled for December 17, 2024 at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers. City Council review is anticipated to occur in late January 2025. Should there be support to proceed, staff would prepare an ordinance and schedule public hearings to be held at the Planning Commission and City Council.