Santa Ana City Council approves group home ordinance to protect neighborhoods and provide safer housing for people with disabilities

The new rules will help the City regulate increasing numbers of unlicensed group homes.

SANTA ANA, Calif. - The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved a landmark ordinance on Tuesday, Sept. 16, to better regulate group homes and sober-living facilities in residential neighborhoods.

The new rules will improve living conditions for individuals with disabilities and establish a comprehensive regulatory framework that strengthens oversight, ensures compliance with state and federal laws, and protects the integrity of Santa Ana's residential communities.

"This ordinance is a critical measure to safeguard the health and safety of our neighborhoods," said Mayor Valerie Amezcua. "By implementing clear, responsible regulations for group homes, we are preserving the character of our communities and ensuring public safety without compromising compassion and support for those in need. The ordinance also will help protect some of our most vulnerable residents by improving housing safety for people with disabilities."

Santa Ana has seen a sharp increase in unlicensed group homes, particularly in single-family neighborhoods. This growth has raised community concerns about quality standards for the group homes' residents, over-concentration, impacts to neighborhood character and lack of oversight. The new ordinance is modeled after the City of Costa Mesa's regulations, which were upheld by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as non-discriminatory and beneficial to individuals with disabilities.

Key provisions of the ordinance:

• Health and safety requirements designed to ensure that people with disabilities will have a safe living environment in group homes.
• Requires permitsfor group homes based on size:
  • Group Home Special Use Permit for unlicensed homes with 6 or fewer occupants.
  • Conditional Use Permit and Operator's Permit for homes with 7 or more occupants.
• Establishes a 650-foot separation requirementbetween group homes (except state-licensed homes with 6 or fewer residents in single-family zones).
• Adds operational standardsfor sober-living homes, including:
  • Active participation in treatment programs
  • Restrictions on alcohol and substance use
  • Good neighbor and visitation policies
• Imposes occupancy limits and operator qualifications
• Requires existing homes to apply for permitswithin 90 to 120 days of the ordinance's effective date.
• Allows for reasonable accommodation requestsin accordance with federal and state disability laws.

The City Council also adopted a resolution establishing application review fees for newly required Group Home Special Use Permits and Group Home Operator's Permits, ensuring cost recovery for the City's administrative efforts. These fees are based on actual City staff time and resources and align with California's cost recovery principles for municipal services.

The ordinance will go into effect in 30 days after City Council approval, at which point operators of existing group homes must apply for the required permits within 90 to 120 days. The City's Planning and Building Agency, along with the City Attorney's Office and Code Enforcement, will oversee implementation and compliance.

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