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Persons recovering from addiction to drugs and/or alcohol are considered to be disabled under state and federal law.
Since the federal Fair Housing Act ("the Act") was amended by Congress in 1988 to add protections for persons with disabilities and families with children, there has been a great deal of litigation concerning the Act's effect on the ability of local governments to exercise control over group living arrangements, particularly for persons with disabilities. The Department of Justice has taken an active part in much of this litigation, often following referral of a matter by the Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"). Following is an overview of the Fair Housing Act's requirements in this area.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits a broad range of practices that discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. The Act does not pre-empt local zoning laws. However, the Act applies to municipalities and other local government entities and prohibits them from making zoning or land use decisions or implementing land use policies that exclude or otherwise discriminate against protected persons, including individuals with disabilities.
The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to:
- Utilize land use policies or actions that treat groups of persons with disabilities less favorably than groups of non-disabled persons. An example would be an ordinance prohibiting housing for persons with disabilities or a specific type of disability, such as mental illness, from locating in a particular area, while allowing other groups of unrelated individuals to live together in that area.
- Take action against, or deny a permit, for a home because of the disability of individuals who live or would live there. An example would be denying a building permit for a home because it was intended to provide housing for persons with mental retardation.
- Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in land use and zoning policies and procedures where such accommodations may be necessary to afford persons or groups of persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing.
- What constitutes a reasonable accommodation is a case-by-case determination.
- Not all requested modifications of rules or policies are reasonable. If a requested modification imposes an undue financial or administrative burden on a local government, or if a modification creates a fundamental alteration in a local government's land use and zoning scheme, it is not a "reasonable" accommodation.
HUD and the Department of Justice encourage parties to group home disputes to explore all reasonable dispute resolution procedures, like mediation, as alternatives to litigation.
Adapted from the Joint Statement of the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (August 18, 1999)- Alcoholism or Drug Abuse Recovery or Treatment facility - An adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility that is licensed pursuant to Section 11834.01 of the California Health & Safety Code. Alcoholism or Drug Abuse Recovery or Treatment Facilities are a subset of Residential Care Facilities.
Conditional use permit (CUP) - A discretionary approval usually granted by the planning commission which allows a use or activity not allowed as a matter of right, based on specified findings.
Group home - A facility that is being used as a supportive living environment for persons who are considered handicapped under state or federal law.
Handicapped - As more specifically defined under the fair housing laws, a person who has a physical or mental impairment that limits one (1) or more major life activities, a person who is regarded as having that type of impairment, or a person who has a record of that type of impairment, not including current, illegal use of a controlled substance.
Integral facilities - Any combination of two (2) or more group homes which may or may not be located on the same or contiguous parcels of land, that are under the control and management of the same owner, operator, management company or licensee or any affiliate of any of them, and are integrated components of one (1) operation shall be referred to as integral facilities and shall be considered one (1) facility for purposes of applying federal, state and local laws to its operation. Examples of such integral facilities include, but are not limited to, the provision of housing in one (1) facility and recovery programming, treatment, meals, or any other service or services to program participants in another facility or facilities or by assigning staff or a consultant or consultants to provide services to the same program participants in more than one (1) licensed or unlicensed facility.
Integral uses - Any two (2) or more residential care programs commonly administered by the same owner, operator, management company or licensee, or any affiliate of any of them, in a manner in which participants in two (2) or more care programs participate simultaneously in any care or recovery activity or activities so commonly administered. Any such integral use shall be considered one (1) use for purposes of applying federal, state and local laws to its operation.
Operator - A company, business or individual who provides residential services, i.e., the placement of individuals in a residence, setting of house rules, and governing behavior of the residents as residents. Operator does not include a property owner or property manager that exclusively handles real estate contracting, property management and leasing of the property and that does not otherwise meet the definition of operator.
Permitted use - Any use allowed in a land use zoning district without requiring a discretionary approval, and subject to the provisions applicable to that district.
Residential Care Facility - A residential facility licensed by the state where care, services, or treatment is provided to persons living in a supportive community residential setting.
Single Housekeeping Unit - The occupants of a dwelling unit have established ties and familiarity with each other, jointly use common areas, interact with each other, share meals, household activities, and expenses and responsibilities; membership in the single housekeeping unit is fairly stable as opposed to transient, members have some control over who becomes a member of the household, and the residential activities of the household are conducted on a nonprofit basis. There is a rebuttable presumption that integral facilities do not constitute single housekeeping units. Additional indicia that a household is not operating as a single housekeeping unit include but are not limited to: the occupants do not share a lease agreement or ownership of the property; members of the household have separate, private entrances from other members; members of the household have locks on their bedroom doors; members of the household have separate food storage facilities, such as separate refrigerators.
Sober Living Home - a Group Home for persons who are recovering from a drug and/or alcohol addiction and who are considered handicapped under state or federal law. Sober living homes shall not include the following: (1) Residential Care Facilities; (2) any Sober Living Home that operates as a single housekeeping unit. - A Residential Care Facility is one that is licensed by the California Department of Social Services (DSS) or the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Residential Care facilities that provide drug and or alcohol abuse treatment are licensed by DHCS and are known as alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities. Homes are required to be licensed by the DHCS when at least one of the following services is provided: detoxification, group counseling sessions, individual counseling sessions, educational sessions, or alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment planning.
A Sober Living Home is a home used by people recovering from substance abuse, which serves as an interim environment between rehab and their future lives. These homes are not allowed to provide the same services as a DHCS licensed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility. Sober Living Homes are primarily meant to provide housing for people who have just come out of rehab and need a place to live that is structured and supportive for those in recovery. - The City’s regulations for group homes, including sober living homes, and state licensed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities, are found in Chapters XV and XVI of Title 13 (Zoning) Click Here and Article 23 of Title 9 (Licenses and Business Regulations) Click Here of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code. The general requirements are as follows:
- Group homes, including sober living homes, with 6 or fewer residents, plus one house manager are allowed to locate in all residential zones with a special use permit (SUP), which requires:
- A public hearing in front of the Development Services Director prior to issuance
- Notice to all residents and property owners within 500’
- Written Rules and regulations
- Relapse policy
- Manager present 24-hours a day o Garage and driveway must remain available for parking
- Residents must park on site or within 400 feet
- Compliance with all applicable provisions of the California Vehicle Code, such as those related to parking, stopping and licensure
- No care and supervision is allowed
- Full compliance with building and zoning codes
- If a resident is evicted, operators must notify the resident’s emergency contact and provide transportation to their permanent address
- If the resident has no home to return to or otherwise refuses transportation home, the operator must provide transportation to another facility if a bed is available
- Sober living homes also require:
- 650’ separation from another sober living home or state licensed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities
- Occupants must be enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous
- No use of alcohol or non-prescription drugs – violators must be evicted
- Limits on the number of occupants subject to sex offender registration
- A good neighbor policy that direct occupants to be considerate of neighbors, including refraining from engaging in excessively loud, profane or obnoxious behavior that would unduly interfere with a neighbor's use and enjoyment of their dwelling unit
- No detoxification, counseling sessions or treatment or recovery planning allowed
- A public hearing in front of the Development Services Director prior to issuance
- State licensed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities with 6 or fewer residents are regulated by the DHCS and are not subject to the City’s group home regulations pursuant to state law, but are subject to all other code requirements applicable to single-family dwellings.
- Group homes, sober living homes, and DHCS licensed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities with 7 or more residents may locate only in the multiple-family residential zones. The general requirements are:
- A conditional use permit (CUP) must be obtained
- Public hearing in front of the Planning Commission
- Separation requirements
- Must be 650’ away from another group homes, sober living home, or State licensed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility
- Sober living homes also require an operator’s permit which includes most of the same requirements as a SUP
- A conditional use permit (CUP) must be obtained
- Group homes, including sober living homes, with 6 or fewer residents, plus one house manager are allowed to locate in all residential zones with a special use permit (SUP), which requires:
Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes are permitted in single-family residential neighborhoods (R1 zones).
The state of California has determined that licensed facilities serving six or fewer residents are residential uses under state law, and cannot be subject to zoning regulations that do not apply generally to all residences in an area. Therefore, Residential Care Facilities serving six or fewer persons are permitted in the R1 zone. Group homes are subject to the City’s zoning regulations and require a SUP (CMMC 13-311).Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes are permitted in multifamily residential zones (R2-MD, R2-HD, R3, PDR-LD, PDR-HD, PDR-NCM, PDC, and PDI).
Residential Care Facilities serving six or fewer persons are permitted in multifamily zones pursuant to state law. Group homes serving six or fewer residents require a SUP (CMMC 13-311). Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes serving seven or more persons require a CUP.- Pursuant to Federal regulations, the city is required to grant disabled individuals reasonable accommodation from zoning restrictions when necessary to allow equal use or enjoyment of a dwelling. An accommodation is reasonable if it does not cause undue hardship, fiscal, or administrative burdens on the municipality, or does not undermine the basic purpose a zoning ordinance seeks to achieve. A three-part test is applied to determining whether a reasonable accommodation is necessary:
(1) the accommodation must be reasonable and
(2) necessary, and must,
(3) allow a substance abuser equal opportunity to use and enjoy a particular dwelling.
The city must make exceptions in its zoning rules to afford people with disabilities the same access to housing as those who are without disabilities. However, fundamental or substantial modifications from municipal or zoning codes are not required. - The DHCS licenses facilities providing 24-hour residential nonmedical services to eligible adults who are recovering from alcohol or other drug misuse or abuse. Facilities are required to be licensed by the DHCS when they offer at least one of the following services:
- Detoxification
- Individual or group sessions
- Education
- Recovery or treatment planning
- Individualized services (e.g., vocational and employment, new skills training, social and recreational activities, peer support)
- State law does not impose any separation requirements between DHCS licensed facilities serving those in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. However, the City has adopted a separation requirement of 650 feet between group homes and licensed facilities serving those in recovery. This standard only applies to those facilities subject the City’s permitting requirements (those facilities required to obtain a SUP or CUP).
- The Department of Justice and HUD take the position, and most courts that have addressed the issue agree, that density restrictions are generally inconsistent with the Fair Housing Act. We also believe, however, that if a neighborhood came to be composed largely of group homes, that could create an institutional setting. Such a setting would be inconsistent with the objective of integrating persons with disabilities into the community. This objective does not, however, justify separations which have the effect of foreclosing group homes from locating in entire neighborhoods.
The City has established a separation standard of 650 feet between group homes and Residential Care Facilities serving those in recovery. This separation standard only applies to those facilities subject to the City’s permitting requirements. The intent is to allow about one such facility per block. The City adopted this standard to prevent neighborhoods from becoming institutionalized with multiple group homes. The intent of state law in allowing these facilities in residential neighborhoods is to allow those in recovery to live in a residential setting. - State law provides that cities must treat licensed facilities serving six or fewer residents as a single-family residential use. Federal and state fair housing laws protect people with disabilities from housing discrimination. Recovering alcoholics and drug addicts are disabled for purposes of anti-discrimination laws. When people in recovery live together in a sober living home, the city cannot discriminate on the basis of the disability, which means an ordinance cannot treat sober living homes differently than other similar uses in residential zones.
The City allows neighbors to provide input when the City is making a decision about granting a permit to a Group Home or licensed care facility to locate in a residential neighborhood.
The City modified its regulations to require a public hearing prior to approving a SUP. SUPs allow sober living homes serving six or fewer residents to operate in a residential zone. The City’s regulations stipulate that an SUP can only be denied if it fails to comply with the zoning code. The purpose of the hearing is to allow neighbors to provide evidence as to the facility’s compliance with the zoning code. Decisions regarding SUPs may be appealed to the Planning Commission.
Facilities serving more than seven residents require approval of a CUP. The Planning Commission must hold a public hearing prior to taking action on a CUP. The Commission may impose conditions of approval to ensure the use is compatible with the neighborhood. The decisions of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council.
The City provides notices of these public hearings to all owners and occupants of property within 500 feet of the proposed group home. Notice is also published in the Daily Pilot at least ten days prior to the hearing, and notices are posted on the subject property. The City also maintains an email interest list and provides informal notice when hearings involving group homes are scheduled. To sign up for this list, Click here and enter in subject line: Interest listFactors the City may consider when evaluating an application for a group home or licensed care facility
In the same way a local government would break the law if it rejected low-income housing in a community because of neighbors' fears that such housing would be occupied by racial minorities, a local government can violate the Fair Housing Act if it blocks a group home or denies a requested reasonable accommodation in response to neighbors' stereotypical fears or prejudices about persons with disabilities. This is so even if the individual government decision-makers are not themselves personally prejudiced against persons with disabilities. If the evidence shows that the decision-makers were responding to the wishes of their constituents, and that the constituents were motivated in substantial part by discriminatory concerns, that could be enough to prove a violation. Of course, the City Council and Planning Commission are not bound by everything that is said by every person who speaks out at a public hearing. It is the record as a whole that will be determinative. If the record shows that there were valid reasons for denying an application that were not related to the disability of the prospective residents, the courts will give little weight to isolated discriminatory statements. If, however, the purportedly legitimate reasons advanced to support the action are not objectively valid, the courts are likely to treat them as pretextual, and to find that there has been discrimination. The decision makers must base decisions on specific evidence regarding the application under consideration. If the facility is creating specific problems that interfere with the ability of surrounding residents to enjoy their property, those issues may properly influence the decision. However, City officials cannot base decisions to approve or deny these applications based on stereotypical fears or general concerns about possible impacts.- When approving a CUP, the City may impose conditions necessary to ensure compliance with its regulations, and to address operational considerations that may be creating issues in the area. However, conditions may not discriminate against the residents of the home by denying them privileges enjoyed by other residents in the neighborhood. Since the City does not limit the number of cars that may be kept at any residence, for instance, the City may not impose conditions limiting the number of vehicles that can be kept at a group home.
- The City requires operators to notify the resident’s emergency contact at least 48 before evicting a resident. The operator is also obligated to provide transportation back to the resident’s permanent address. Further, operators are required to contact OC Links, the County of Orange referral service, and the City’s Network for Homeless Solutions, to determine if services are available for the resident. If the resident refuses transportation back to their permanent address, and there is a bed available in another facility, the operator is required to provide transportation to that facility.
The Community Improvement Division will respond to issues regarding noise, property maintenance, use of garage, or any other zoning violations. The phone number to contact is (714) 754-5623.
Complaints may also be reported online using the Costa Mesa Connect application here.
The Costa Mesa Police Department can respond to any disturbance complaints after normal business hours. The phone number to contact is (714) 754-5252.
If you would like to file a complaint directly to the State licensing agency, here is the link: DHCS complaints.The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) maintains a list of approved facilities here (the following link is not maintained by the city):
- Look under resources for Residential & Outpatient Licensed and/or Certified Facilities List
- Each violation notice will have the code officer's contact information at the bottom. This will be in the form of the code officer's telephone number and email. Please call them directly regarding your notice. You can also call the Duty officer at (714) 754-5638 and they will direct you to the appropriate code staff.
I have a concern, but I don't see it listed under the ordinances and codes listed here. Where else could I find additional information?
Please call us. Although we may not be directly responsible for the concern you may have, this division partners with other City departments, Local/County agencies, and some State offices. We will try our best to send you in the right direction.- In general, Code Staff responds within three business days of the submittal. Due the complexity of some submittals Code staff may take additional time to conduct research prior to responding. This is done in conjunction with balancing their current work load.
- Call us.
- Our Duty officer/main hotline is available at (714) 754-5638 from 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
- Need to call about noise after hours? Call (714) 754-5252.
File online.
- Use the City's Costa Mesa Connect online tool here, a simple online form or download the mobile version for your Apple or Android device. Just search for Costa Mesa Connect in the Apple store or Google play.
- The two areas of State law that code staff enforces are in the CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE SECTION 105.1 as it relates to building permits and the HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE as it relates to substandard housing.
- Code Enforcement is the prevention, detection, investigation and enforcement of violations of statutes or ordinances regulating public health, safety, business activities, building standards, land-use, and municipal affairs.
You can report issues such as potholes or graffiti through the city’s free smart phone app called Costa Mesa Connect. You can download the app for free from the Apple app store or Google Play (just type in “Costa Mesa Connect” in the search engine). You can also use Costa Mesa Connect here in the city’s website.
- There are very few exemptions to the requirements for building permits. As a general rule, building permits are required for the construction of structures, additions, alterations, retaining walls, and most miscellaneous structures. It is suggested you check with the Building Division prior to constructing masonry walls and all types of fencing as there may be requirements for permits. Re-roofing also requires a building permit. Swimming pool enclosures require plan review, permits and inspection.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are required for new construction, alterations to existing systems, most repairs to existing systems, etc.
Prior to commencement of work, it is recommended you call the Building Division and check for permit requirements. You can reach the Building Division at (714) 754-5273. - Permit records must be reviewed at the Building Division counter on the second floor of City Hall. Records may be reviewed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Contractors may obtain a business license when applying for permits. To apply/renew/pay/close Business License, please visit this page. Contractors who need to renew their business licenses may also pay the renewal fee when obtaining permits.
If you have specific questions pertaining to the business license process, it is suggested you contact the Business License office at (714) 754-5235.
The Business License office is on the first floor of City Hall. - The scope of work determines how permits are obtained. In most instances, permits for attached patio covers, block walls/fences up to six feet in height, in-ground pools, retaining walls up to four feet in height, storage sheds, etc., may be issued at the counter. A minimum of two site plans are required. The site plan must indicate the property layout and show the location of the proposed work. Standard plans are available for block wall and patio construction.
Permits for minor residential repair work, such as water heater change outs, electrical service upgrade, furnace change outs, etc. are generally issued at the counter.
Permits for larger projects usually require plan check.
The Building Division counter staff is available to assist you in obtaining your construction-related permits. The Building Division counter is open Monday through Friday (except holidays), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Note: It is suggested you arrive at the Building Division counter no later than 4 p.m. if possible. This will allow adequate processing time for obtaining over the counter permits and/or plan check submittal. Office hours for contact with the Inspection staff are between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Due to the nature of their work, they spend most of the day in the field conducting inspections. You may leave a message on their voice mail.
Click on the Building Division Directory in order to locate the cell phone numbers for the Inspection staff.
- The current codes are the
- California Building Code
- California Residential Code
- California Mechanical Code
- California Plumbing Code
- California Electrical Code
- California Energy Code
- The City of Costa Mesa Building Division provides construction permits, inspections, plan checks, and code enforcement. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday through Friday. The office is located at 77 Fair Drive, 2nd Floor, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
You may want to download the Permit Processing Center Information to know more about the requirements and procedures or visit the Building Division page here. - Property owners and licensed contractors may obtain permits for construction-related activity at a site. An agent may obtain permits on behalf of the property owner or licensed contractor upon submittal of the completed authorized agent forms.
Agent for property owner
Owner Builder Verification.
Property owners who are considering allowing an authorized agent to pull permits on their behalf should review the Owner Builder Information prior to signing the Owner Builder Verification/authorization form. Property owners who are considering pulling permits as owner/builder should review the Owner Builder Information prior to signing the Owner Builder Verification form.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the Owner Builder Information or the authorized agent process please contact one of the Building Technicians:
Agent for ContractorContacts Beth Hartley
(714) 754-5329
Chris Kalbaklian
(714) 754-5676
The Declaration of Authorization for Agents of Contractors to Apply for Permits must be notarized. No, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2021-17, prohibiting all short term rentals (STRs) throughout the City of Costa Mesa, on November 2, 2021.
Home sharing as defined below is exempt from the urgency ordinance.
- No.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are subject to a land use restriction that does not allow renting for less than 31 days. ADUs cannot be used as STRs in Costa Mesa.
Please submit your concern on the MYCOSTAMESA online complaint portal application here; or contact the Community Improvement Division’s code enforcement duty desk at (714) 754-5638.
Once a violation has been verified, the City may issue fines up $1,000 a day. In addition, other enforcement options such as criminal charges and or nuisance abatement action may be taken against the responsible party.
A STR is the rental of a residential dwelling unit (or portion thereof) to paying occupants for less than 30 days. Where legal, STRs can vary from the rental of a single bedroom or common area to an entire home or apartment.