Group homes and residential care in Anaheim: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Anaheim Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Anaheim's code says

Anaheim code What Anaheim's code adds
Parking	Off-street parking under the residential parking requirements section. Applies: Unlicensed small community care facilities and small sober living homes. § 18.38.123 · code text Community Care Facilities–Unlicensed (Small) and Sober Living Homes (Small) shall provide off-street parking pursuant to Section 18.42.030 (Residential Parking Requirements). Off-street parking under the non-residential parking requirements section. Applies: Large community care facilities and large sober living homes. § 18.38.123 · code text Community Care Facilities (Large) and Sober Living Homes (Large) shall provide off-street parking pursuant to Section 18.42.040 (Non-Residential Parking Requirements). Garages, driveways and assigned parking spaces must stay available for parking vehicles at all times. Applies: Unlicensed community care facilities and sober living homes. § 18.38.123 · code text All garages, driveways, and/or assigned parking spaces associated with the facility shall be available for the parking of vehicles at all times.
Homes for 7 or more	A valid permit is required. Applies: Unlicensed large community care facilities and large sober living homes. § 18.38.123 · code text No person, firm, corporation or other entity shall operate any Community Care Facility–Unlicensed and a Sober Living Home, regardless of size, within the City without first obtaining a valid permit.
Homes for 6 or fewer	A valid permit is required. Applies: Unlicensed small community care facilities and small sober living homes. § 18.38.123 · code text No person, firm, corporation or other entity shall operate any Community Care Facility–Unlicensed and a Sober Living Home, regardless of size, within the City without first obtaining a valid permit. Limited to 6 or fewer residents, not counting a house manager and staff; a valid permit is required. Applies: Unlicensed small community care facilities and sober living homes. § 18.38.123 · code text Community Care Facilities–Unlicensed (Small) and Sober Living Homes (Small) shall be limited to six (6) or fewer residents, not counting a house manager and staff.
Distance between homes	At least 300 feet apart, measured from the closest property lines. Applies: Unlicensed community care facility, of any size, from any other community care facility, licensed or unlicensed. § 18.38.123 · code text Such facility, regardless of size, shall not be located within three hundred (300) feet, as measured from the closest property lines, of any other Community Care Facility, Unlicensed or Community Care Facility, Licensed, regardless of size. At least 800 feet apart, measured from the closest property lines. Applies: Sober living home of any size, from any other sober living home or alcohol or drug recovery or treatment facility. § 18.38.123 · code text Such facility, regardless of size, shall not be located within eight hundred (800) feet, as measured from the closest property lines, of any other Sober Living Home or Alcoholism or Drug Abuse Recovery or Treatment Facility, regardless of size.

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Frequently asked questions

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Anaheim?

Anaheim's code: Off-street parking under the residential parking requirements section. (Unlicensed small community care facilities and small sober living homes.) (§ 18.38.123); Off-street parking under the non-residential parking requirements section. (Large community care facilities and large sober living homes.) (§ 18.38.123).

Group homes and residential care in Anaheim

What Anaheim's code says

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