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East Palo Alto · Building on your lot

Group homes and residential care in East Palo Alto

East Palo Alto's own rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text for every value.

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

What East Palo Alto's code says

East Palo Alto code What East Palo Alto's code adds
Homes for 7 or more
  • A Conditional Use Permit is required.
    Applies: Residential care facility - general in all residential zones; not facilities - limited with 6 or fewer residents licensed by the State and/or City.
    § 18.48.160 · code text
    In all residential zones, a residential care facility - general may be allowed subject to the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
Homes for 6 or fewer
  • Not subject to this section if licensed by the appropriate State and/or City department.
    Applies: Applies to residential care facilities - limited with 6 or fewer residents.
    § 18.48.160 · code text
    This section does not apply to residential care facilities - limited consisting of six or fewer residents provided the facility is licensed by the appropriate State and/or City department.
Distance between homes
  • A general facility must be at least 500 feet from the parcel of a limited facility.
    Applies: General facility near a limited facility (licensed or unlicensed) of 6 or fewer residents; not to licensed facilities of 6 or fewer.
    § 18.48.160 · code text
    A residential care facility - general shall not be allowed to locate within 500 feet of the boundaries of a parcel with a residential care facility - limited (whether licensed or unlicensed), with six or fewer residents;
  • A general facility must be at least 750 feet from the parcel of another general facility.
    Applies: Applies to a residential care facility - general near another facility - general; not to licensed facilities of 6 or fewer residents.
    § 18.48.160 · code text
    A residential care facility - general shall not be located within 750 feet of the boundaries of a parcel with another residential care facility - general.
Where allowed
  • Allowed in all residential zones.
    Applies: Applies to residential care facility - general, with a Conditional Use Permit; not to licensed facilities of 6 or fewer residents.
    § 18.48.160 · code text
    In all residential zones, a residential care facility - general may be allowed subject to the approval of a Conditional Use Permit.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto's code: A Conditional Use Permit is required. (Residential care facility - general in all residential zones; not facilities - limited with 6 or fewer residents licensed by the State and/or City.) (§ 18.48.160); Not subject to this section if licensed by the appropriate State and/or City department. (Applies to residential care facilities - limited with 6 or fewer residents.) (§ 18.48.160).

General information, not legal advice.

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East Palo Alto Municipal Code — full text