Planning and Building Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pb
Item # 25
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
September 16, 2025
TOPIC: Group Home Ordinance – Second Reading
AGENDA TITLE
Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01 and Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01 to Amend Portions of Chapter 41 (Zoning) and Chapter 8 (Buildings and Structures) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Relating to Group Homes and Land Use Definitions Legal notice published in the OC Reporter on August 20, 2025.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
1. Conduct a second reading of and adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01 and Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01 to amend several sections of Chapter 41 (Zoning) and to add Article XXIII to Chapter 8 (Buildings and Structures) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code relating to the location, licensing, permitting, and operational requirements for group homes and land use definitions.
ORDINANCE NO. NS-3084 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING PORTIONS OF CHAPTER 41 (ZONING) AND CHAPTER 8 (BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES) OF THE SANTA
ANA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO GROUP HOMES AND LAND USE
DEFINITIONS, REGULATING SUCH USES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
DISABLED AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3), 15061(C)(2), 15060(C)(3), AND/OR 15301
2. Determine that, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), 15061(b)(3), and 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
ZOA No. 2025-01 and OA No. 2025-01 (Group Home Ordinance) September 16, 2025
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DISCUSSION
At the August 19, 2025 meeting, the City Council conducted a first reading of an ordinance, Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01, amending several sections of Chapter 41 (Zoning) and Ordinance Amendment No. 2025-01, to add Article XXIII to Chapter 8 (Buildings and Structures) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code relating to the location, licensing, permitting, and operational requirements for group homes and land use definitions. The ordinance, approved 7:0, requires a second reading and adoption to become effective October 16, 2025.
No changes to the ordinance were made by the City Council. A copy of the ordinance for second reading is attached to this report as Exhibit 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and the CEQA Guidelines, the adoption of this ordinance (“Project”) is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The Project is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment. The amendments provide definitions and standards to regulate the location, operation, and licensing of group homes and do not authorize new development or changes in density or intensity of land use. Moreover, the Project is categorically exempt from further review per Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines. This exemption applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The Project merely establishes administrative and land use oversight procedures for group homes already operating or proposed within existing residential structures, and will not expand the existing use. None of the exceptions to the use of categorical exemptions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to the Class 1 exemptions or this ordinance. Specifically, the Project will not result in cumulative impacts, will not affect any scenic or historic resources, and will not involve unusual circumstances leading to a significant impact. Therefore, a Notice of Exemption, Environmental Review No. 2025-43, will be filed for the Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed ordinance has a net neutral fiscal impact, as the passage of the ordinance would generate fiscal impacts to the City in the form of additional expenditures offset by new revenues. Based on best available data for the 74 existing known and suspected residential care and group home facilities, staff estimates one-time permit revenues of approximately $358,000 and approximately $17,000 in total annual permit revenues thereafter. Such revenues recover the City’s costs associated with equipment, materials, and personnel already budgeted. Therefore, an appropriation adjustment is not required.
ZOA No. 2025-01 and OA No. 2025-01 (Group Home Ordinance) September 16, 2025
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EXHIBIT
1. Ordinance for Second Reading
Submitted By: Ali Pezeshkpour, AICP, Executive Director, Planning and Building Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager