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ZOA No. 2025-01, OA No. 2025-01, and Fee Resolution (Group Home Ordinance and <br />Group Home Special Use Permit and Operator’s Permit Fees) <br />August 19, 2025 <br />Page 2 <br />5 <br />2 <br />0 <br />9 <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />At its April 15, 2025 regular meeting, the City Council, with unanimous support, directed <br />staff to draft an ordinance based on the Costa Mesa group home ordinance to establish <br />local regulations for group homes for the Council’s consideration that are consistent with <br />the Federal Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988 (FFHA), the California Fair <br />Employment Housing Act (FEHA), and recent caselaw. The proposed regulations will <br />preserve the characteristics of residential neighborhoods, provide opportunities for the <br />disabled to reside in a residential zone that is enjoyed by the non-disabled, and provide <br />a broader range of housing opportunities to the disabled. <br />Planning Commission Action – June 23, 2025 <br />On June 23, 2025, the Planning Commission held a public hearing for the project and <br />voted 5:0:2, with Commissioners Leo and Ramos absent, to recommend that the City <br />Council approve Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA) No. 2025-01. The Planning <br />Commission did not provide a recommendation on the proposed amendments to Chapter 8 <br />nor on the proposed resolution to establish permit fees as they are not within the purview of <br />the Commission. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The City of Santa Ana is proposing to amend portions of Chapter 41 (Zoning) and to add <br />Article XXIII to Chapter 8 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) to establish a <br />regulatory framework for the location, licensing, permitting, and operational requirements <br />of group homes. The proposed amendment also includes modifications to definitions. <br />These amendments are intended to reflect current state and federal laws and implement <br />best practices. In addition, the recommended actions include adoption of a resolution <br />(Exhibit 2) establishing fees for Group Home Special Use Permits and Group Home <br />Operator’s Permits. <br />The proposed ordinance, attached to this report (Exhibit 1), includes Zoning Ordinance <br />Amendment No. 2025-01 and Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01. Zoning Ordinance <br />No. 2025-01 would amend Chapter 41 and Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01 would <br />amend Chapter 8 (Buildings and Structures) of the SAMC. Table 1 below and on <br />subsequent pages illustrates key provisions of the proposed amendments to both Chapter <br />41 and Chapter 8. <br />Table 1: ZOA No. 2025-01 and OA No. 2025-01 Current and Proposed Text Regulations <br />Item Existing Zoning Code <br />Regulations <br />Proposed Zoning Code Amendment <br />Definitions Group homes nor sober- <br />living homes are defined. <br />1. Sec. 41-66.5 defines group <br />homes. <br />2. Sec. 41-143.5 defines residential <br />care facilities.