Frequently Asked Questions

Sober living homes are a type of group home functioning as a facility, offering a comfortable living environment for persons with drug or alcohol addictions where they remain clean and sober and can participate in a recovery program in a residential, community environment, in the neighborhood of their choice.

Sober living facilities are a type of group home. 

The City is currently conducting public hearings for Group and Sober Living Homes that have submitted applications for a Special Use Permit. If you are a neighbor within 1000 feet of the applicant, you will receive a notice in the mail. Code Enforcement will begin investigating alleged group/sober living homes that have not applied on March 1, 2025.

As of September 2024, the City of Fountain Valley is one of the few cities in the state of California proactively addressing the evolving status of sober living facilities in our communities. 

Federal Fair Housing Act:

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development “The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities.” To learn more about this act, visit the department website by clicking the link here. 

Americans with Disabilities Act: 

The Americans with Disabilities Act helps regulate and implement standards to ensure appropriate access across various fields is maintained for people with a disability. To learn more about the act, visit the ADA.gov website.

Fair Employment Housing Act:

According to the Fair Employment Housing Act website, this California law, “provides protection from harassment or discrimination in employment because of: age (40 and over), ancestry, color, creed, denial of family and medical care leave, disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, marital status, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.” To learn more about the act, visit the California government’s website by clicking the link here.

Lanterman Act: 

To learn more about the act, visit the California Department of Development Services website by clicking the link here.

On March 1, 2024, Fountain Valley City Council approved Ordinance No. 1607 to amend the Fountain Valley Municipal Code to establish regulations for group homes that require:

• The acquisition of use permits for operating facilities
• A six-resident maximum
• 650 ft of separation between sober living homes or state licensed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery/treatment facilities (measured from the closest property lines)

The ordinance also furthers the purposes of the FEHA, the FHAA, and the Lanterman Act by: 

• Confirming that group homes and sober living facilities are entitled to the accommodations requested 
• Limiting the secondary impacts caused by overcrowding of residential properties by reducing noise and traffic, preserving safety and wellness and providing adequate on street parking
• Providing accommodation for persons with disabilities that are reasonable and equitable to the opportunities given to non-handicapped individuals to use and enjoy a living unit in a single-family neighborhood (a residential area zoned for only one housing unit per parcel of land); and 
• Providing comfortable living environments that will enhance the opportunity for persons with disabilities and recovering addicts to be successful in their programs.

The ordinance went into effect on March 1, 2024. Upon adoption, the ordinance gave existing sober living homes 90 days from March 1, 2024, to submit an application for a Special Use Permit.  Existing businesses will also have one year to come into full compliance with the ordinance.

The City is continually updating its list of compliant sober living homes. On March 1, 2025, the City will initiate code enforcement through its Code Enforcement Officers. 

A special use permit allows a particular use of land for a defined period of time. They are required for certain uses in certain zones, or for activities that could have a negative impact on the surrounding area. They are often subject to conditions to ensure they are compatible with the surrounding area. To submit a Special Use Permit for a sober living home, click here.

Sober living homes in the R1 Zone:
Existing sober living homes located in the R1 zone (single-family residential zone) must apply for a Special Use Permit within 90 days of the effective ordinance date, which was March 1, 2024. These groups have one year from that date of adoption to comply with all of the details outlined in Ordinance No.1607, including the six-resident maximum. These homes must also be at least 650 feet away from any other group home, sober living home or state licensed drug and alcohol treatment facility property (as measured from the property line).

Sober living homes in the GH, R2, R3 and R4 residential zones with six or fewer occupants:

For the sober living homes in GH, R2, R3 and R4, a Special Use permit will be required for continued operation. These homes must also be at least 650 feet away from any other group home, sober living home or state licensed drug and alcohol treatment facility property (as measured from the property line).

GH: Low-medium density residential land use designation. It has a maximum density of 10.8 dwelling units per acre. 
R2: Low density multiple dwelling district with a maximum density of 10 dwelling units per net acre.
R3: Medium density multiple dwelling district with a maximum density of 15 dwelling units per net acre.
R4: High density multiple dwelling district with a maximum density of 20 dwelling units per net acre.

The City’s governance over sober living homes is limited to enforcing applicable Municipal, Zoning and Building Codes; and State Penal Code statutes. Fountain Valley is regulating sober living homes by enacting ordinances that require a certain distance between homes, limit the number of residents, and place reasonable standards for their operation. 

If you experience or witness possible code compliance violations, you can contact Code Enforcement and provide the address of the facility and activity observed.   

• Call: 714-593-4444  
• Email: CodeEnforcement@fountainvalley.gov
• Online complaint

If you experience or witness a crime, contact the Fountain Valley Police Department: (714) 593-4485.

Code Enforcement Officers employed by the City will be enforcing code compliance.

If you experience or witness possible code compliance violations, you can contact Code Enforcement and provide the address of the facility and activity observed.   

• Call: 714-593-4444  
• Email: CodeEnforcement@fountainvalley.gov
• Online complaint

To date, the City has received 19 Special Use Permit applications to operate sober living homes in R1 zones. Once the reviews are completed, the applicant homes will be scheduled for public hearings and notices will be mailed to residents within 1,000 feet of the property. 

Contact state legislators to get involved in sober living home legislation. 

• AB 2081: This bill would require licensed sober living homes to include a disclosure statement saying an individual may check the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to confirm any actions taken against their facility on their websites and intake paperwork. It would also require disclosures to include the link to the DHCS website that provides the status of any violations. AB 2081 provides increased transparency for current and future patients allowing them to make informed choices on care. 

• AB 2574: This bill would expand reporting requirements for licensed recovery home operators. This would enhance the Department of Health Care Services’ oversight of sober living homes that are operating as a part of a licensed drug treatment facility located elsewhere in the community. 

Yes, sober living homes can be located near schools. Both California law and the Federal Fair Housing Act require cities to treat sober living facilities the same as the other types of residences in the neighborhood. This prohibits the City from requiring sober living homes to maintain any distance from a school and prohibits denying a Special Use Permit based on the proximity of the property to a school.

Yes. Cities are able to address complaints regarding a sober living home because they are bound by the same regulations that apply to all types of residences. This includes enforcing existing building codes, safety regulations, municipal codes, and noise ordinances. If the sober living home, or any other home in your neighborhood has violations that you would like addressed, contact Code Enforcement. If there is suspected criminal activity, or there are illegal street parking issues, call FVPD at (714) 593-4485. 

Federal and State Laws: Both the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect individuals in recovery from discrimination, including discriminatory zoning practices. This means that local governments cannot enact laws or ordinances that treat sober living homes differently from other residences based on their proximity to schools or other sensitive areas.

Equal Protection: These laws require that people in recovery have equal access to housing opportunities, regardless of where those homes are located.

The Need for Access to Support: Individuals in recovery often need accessible, community-based housing options. The City has implemented reasonable regulations for group homes and sober living homes. Regulating sober living homes too strictly could limit recovery resources and create unnecessary barriers for people seeking to rebuild their lives.