CITY 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