placement affordable housing units shall be comparable in architectural style to the average of the market rate units. Units that are used to qualify for a density bonus pursuant to the provisions of either California Government Code Section 65915 or Sections 12.22 A.37., 12.22 A.38., or 12.22 A.39. of this Code, or are used to satisfy any inclusionary zoning or replacement affordable housing requirement, or are used to qualify for any other public benefit or incentive, may be used to qualify as replacement affordable housing units pursuant to the provisions of this subsection. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,477, Eff. 2/11/25, Oper. 2/11/25.) C. Application for Exemption from the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. 1. Hardship Exemption. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,455, Eff. 1/15/20.) The Department shall have the authority to grant an exemption from the provisions of this section in cases of undue financial hardship arising from detrimental reliance upon the provisions of this article before enactment of this section. An owner claiming a hardship exemption for their multi-family project (project) must file a written application on the form(s) provided by the Department which demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that the criteria of either Paragraph (a) or (b) have been met: (a) The application was filed with the Department within 90 days of June 4, 2017 (the date Ordinance No. 184,873 was enacted), and demonstrates that the hardship to the project existed as of that date; or (b) The application is filed with the Department within 60 days of the effective date of this Paragraph (b) and demonstrates that the owner received discretionary entitlements for the project before June 4, 2017, and that at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of units at the project are restricted for and affordable to Very Low Income households for a term of 55 years from the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy and the number of Very Low Income restricted units is no less than the number of rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance demolished for the project, if any. An owner who files an application for exemption pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision shall pay to the Department an administrative fee in the amount of $160.00 for each application.