Homeless Shelter Classification: Residential or Other?

In my large southern city "big D", Code  / Fire marashal requires all Homeless Shelters to be Classified as commercial and have sprinkler systems. This goes for churches, converted warehouses, new construction, even emergency shelters. How LEED's classify the project may be different from the city.

Because requirements for bicycle parking are typically dictated by code, which sets requirements by zoning district and occupancy group class, I'd check your local code to see whether shelters are classified as occupancy group commercial, residential or other civic - and use that designation as your basis for your LEED submission.  I'd include an excerpt of your local code/zoning resolution, zoning drawings from your project documents, etc. as backup with an explanation under "Special Circumstances" in the credit form.  Since local regulations related to provision of bicycle parking serve a similar intent to the LEED credit (supporting bicycle trips as transit mode) using similar means (provision of parking infrastructure), there's a good case to be made that following local designations, as Steven suggested above, is appropriate.  Try up.codes or codelibrary.amlegal.com to view local regulations in your project's city. For instance, in NYC, under the building code, homeless shelters are classified as occupancy group R-1 (residential) and as residential use group 3 under the Zoning Resolution.  (therefore, would be "residential" for purposes of applying bicycle parking requirements).

I believe the shelters can be classified as residential in terms of occupancy type per the Occupancy Type explanation noted in Indoor Water Use Reduction credit "Residents. Determine the number of residents—residential occupants in dormitories, hospital in-patients, prisoners, hotel guests, and any other people who use the building for sleeping accommodations."  

Hi Summer, I am presently filing a homeless shelter with New Construction as a commercial building. The variables in residency are too great to declare it just residential and as @stevewheeler mentioned, the sprinkled buidling and other space types within, ie cafeteriea, clinical office, etc. made more sense as commercial. I hope this helps. PS, my project is in the SE as well.