HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 27 - Councilmember Requested Item Regarding Sober Living Homes RegulationsCITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702
TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org
Councilmember Requested Item Report
DATE
April 15, 2025
TOPIC
Sober Living Homes Regulations
TITLE
Discuss and Consider Directing the City Manager to Prepare an Ordinance to Address
Challenges Associated with Sober Living Homes in Santa Ana
DISCUSSION
The operation of some sober living homes in the City of Santa Ana has created numerous
challenges over the years, especially in residential neighborhoods. As the State of California
seeks to adopt regulations to allow oversight over some group homes, particularly sober
living homes, the City of Santa Ana should pursue similar action.
In response to growing concerns associated with sober living homes, Senator Tom Umberg
and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia introduced state legislation this year aimed at
enhancing local oversight and transparency of treatment facilities, including sober living
homes. Senator Umberg’s Senate Bill 35 focuses on reinforcing the regulations surrounding
the operation of sober living homes and substance use disorder treatment facilities.
Assemblymember Valencia’s Assembly Bill 492 is a measure aimed at enhancing local
oversight and transparency of treatment facilities and would require the Department of
Healthcare Services to provide written notice to the local agency within which a licensee will
operate, concurrently with the issuance of a license.
To offset the lack of regulation addressing sober living homes and the growing challenges
associated with their proliferation, we want to direct staff to research other local government
agencies’ sober living home regulations, including cities in Orange County that have adopted
successful ordinances, with the end of goal of creating and adopting a local ordinance that
best fits Santa Ana’s needs.
SUBMITTED BY:
Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Councilmember David Penaloza, Councilmember Phil Bacerra