DATE: 06/17/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Planning and Development Department
2026-222
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
REQUEST BY VICE MAYOR SPEAKE TO EXPLORE REGULATIONS FOR
OUTPATIENT DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CLINICS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to consider amending the Zoning Code in Title 17 of the Corona Municipal Code to establish regulations for outpatient drug addiction treatment clinics. These licensed facilities treat individuals undergoing detoxification from substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council provide direction on whether to amend the Zoning Code to regulate outpatient drug addiction treatment clinics.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
City Council Request
At the City Council meeting on November 5, 2025, then-Council Member Speake requested that the Council explore the legalities of requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for outpatient drug addiction treatment clinics.
Outpatient Drug Addiction Treatment Clinics
Outpatient drug addiction treatment clinics are licensed facilities that treat individuals undergoing detoxification of substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, using a range of methods which typically include the following:
1. Individual or group counseling.
2. Behavioral therapy.
3. Education regarding substance abuse, addiction recovery, and relapse prevention.
4. Medication to treat opioid addiction using FDA-approved medication, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.
5. Drug testing and monitoring of patients for relapse.
Federal, State, and Local Regulations
Treatment clinics that administer, dispense, or prescribe controlled substances, such as methadone and buprenorphine, to treat opioid addiction are required to be registered by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), be accredited by a body approved by the SAMHSA, and licensed by the state where the clinic is located. Clinics that do not use controlled substances, such as naltrexone, to treat opioid addiction are not required to be registered with the DEA or obtain approvals from the SAMHSA.
In the state of California, treatment clinics are also required to be licensed by the California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS).
In the City of Corona, treatment clinics are currently permitted the same as a medical offices or clinics. Meaning, these facilities are permitted by right in commercial, office, and industrial zones, including zoning districts within specific plan areas. Treatment clinics are also permitted in the Downtown Revitalization Specific Plan area.
Existing Clinics in Corona
According to the SAMHSA’s web-based location finder for treatment facilities, there are two existing clinics that provide substance abuse and opioid treatment services in the City, both in Downtown. The same two clinics are also listed on the DHCS’s Narcotic Treatment Program Directory of licensed clinics in California. One clinic is located at 222 W. Sixth Street, and the other is located at 109 E. Eleventh Street.
ANALYSIS:
To establish zoning regulations for outpatient drug addiction treatment clinics, amendments to the Zoning Code (Title 17 of the CMC) and/or applicable specific plans would be required, depending on the geographic area where such regulations would apply.
Conditional Use Permit
A Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is a regulatory zoning tool that can be used to review specific land uses in a zoning district. A CUP is a discretionary approval process, reviewed by staff and the Planning and Housing Commission, that allows certain land uses to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they are appropriate at a specific location. Outpatient drug addiction treatment clinics could be limited to certain commercial and office zones, and can be further restricted in specific geographic areas, such as the Downtown area, or conditionally permitted citywide. Through the CUP process, the City may impose conditions of approval to address operational and sitespecific impacts to mitigate them and ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses.
A CUP cannot be applied to the two existing treatment clinics because they are already legally operating under current zoning standards. Should the City adopt an ordinance amendment to require a CUP for treatment clinics, the two existing clinics in Downtown would be considered legal nonconforming uses because they were lawfully established prior to the effective date of the amendment.
Chapter 17.92 of the CMC governs Conditional Use Permits. Section 17.92.010 states that uses existing on the effective date of an ordinance that imposes a CUP requirement for such use may continue without obtaining a CUP; however, any extension or expansion of such use requires approval of a CUP.
Operational Regulations
Another regulatory tool is to consider adopting supplemental operational standards that would apply to both existing treatment clinics and to all new treatment clinics. Such operational standards could be enforced through issuance of administrative citations.
Standards can address the following:
1. Operation: Establish operational requirements to address potential off-site impacts. Such standards may include restrictions on operating hours and prohibiting outdoor waiting areas to reduce potential loitering and congregation of patients.
2. Separation Distance: Require a minimum separation distance between clinics and sensitive land uses (e.g., residential zones, schools, parks, libraries, youth centers, religious facilities). Separation requirements could also be established between clinics to prevent overconcentration in a particular area. This standard may not be applicable to the two existing clinics in Downtown because they would be considered legally nonconforming uses.
3. Security and Monitoring: Require on-site security guard personnel during a clinic’s business hours and the implementation of security measures, such as adequate on-site lighting and implementation of a security plan.
4. Property Maintenance: Establish property maintenance requirements to ensure that clinic sites are maintained free of litter, debris, cigarette waste, and drug paraphernalia to minimize potential impacts on surrounding properties and public areas.
5. Site Design: Establish site design standards to ensure adequate on-site facilities and circulation. Such standards may include designated patient drop-off/pick-up areas, sufficient on-site parking, and adequately sized indoor waiting areas to prevent patient spillover onto sidewalks, parking lots, or other outdoor areas. This standard may be limited in its application to the two existing clinics depending on their current site design.
The amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to require a CUP for new treatment clinics and/or to apply operational standards to treatment clinics would require a public hearing before the Planning and Housing Commission and the City Council. The amendment would require the adoption of an ordinance by the City Council.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
A text amendment to the Zoning Code is $6,685.28 according to the City’s current adopted fee schedule. The fee amount includes the staff review fee, which is based on the number of hours used by staff to process the amendment, and other processing fees including scanning, public noticing, and county filing fees. However, no application fee will be associated with this amendment since the amendment is initiated by the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from the CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This request is for staff to receive policy direction from the City Council and will not have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: SANDRA VANIAN, PLANNING MANAGER
SUBMITTED BY: DANNY CASTRO, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Outpatient drug addiction treatment clinic power point presentation
2. Exhibit 2 – Future agenda item request from Vice Mayor Speake