(a)  (1)  The operator of employee housing on a dairy farm that meets the requirements of Section 32505 of the Food and Agricultural Code, consisting only of permanent single-family employee housing, may request an exemption from the requirement of obtaining an annual permit to operate. The employee housing camp operator shall notify each tenant of the permanent single-family employee housing in writing that such an exemption is being requested. The request for exemption shall be made in writing to the enforcement agency.

(2)  An exemption shall be granted to permanent single-family employee housing unless the housing is in violation of the State Housing Law, building standards published in the California Building Standards Code relating to employee housing, or the other regulations adopted pursuant to the State Housing Law in a manner that materially affects the health and safety of the occupants, or in the case of a mobilehome or manufactured home, is in violation of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. Secs. 5401, et seq.) or regulations of the department pursuant to Section 18028 in a manner that materially affects the health and safety of the occupants, or has been found in violation of this chapter within the previous two years.

(b)  Whenever the enforcement agency issues an exemption from the requirement of obtaining a permit to operate, it shall make written findings indicating the reasons for issuing the exemption. Exemptions shall be reviewed annually by the enforcement agency.

The findings of the enforcement agency shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:

(1)  The year the dwellings in the employee housing were constructed.

(2)  The number of years the employee housing has been operated with a valid permit to operate.

(3)  The number and character of any complaints received during the time the employee housing has been operating either with or without a permit.

(4)  Any violations cited in the last inspection of the employee housing.

(c)  Failure to maintain any permanent housing in accordance with the State Housing Law, or, in the case of mobilehomes or manufactured homes, failure to maintain these mobilehomes or manufactured homes in accordance with the provisions of Part 2.1 (commencing with Section 18200) of Division 13, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, in a manner which materially affects the health and safety of the occupants, shall be considered cause for revocation of an exemption.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 471, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2001.)