California Health & Safety Code  >   Health & Saf. Code §1568.0831. Residential Care Facility for Six or Fewer Persons with Chronic-Life Threatening Illness is Residential Use of Property

(a)   (1)   Whether or not unrelated persons are living together, a residential care facility that serves six or fewer persons shall be considered a residential use of property for the purposes of this chapter. In addition, the residents and operators of the facility shall be considered a family for the purposes of any law or zoning ordinance that relates to the residential use of property pursuant to this chapter.

(2)   For the purpose of all local ordinances, a residential care facility that serves six or fewer persons shall not be included within the definition of a boarding house, rooming house, institution, guest home, rest home, community residence, or other similar term that implies that the residential care facility is a business run for profit or differs in any other way from a family dwelling.

(3)   This section shall not be construed to prohibit a city, county, or other local public entity from placing restrictions on building heights, setback, lot dimensions, or placement of signs of a residential care facility that serves six or fewer persons as long as the restrictions are identical to those applied to other family dwellings of the same type in the same zone.

(4)   This section shall not be construed to prohibit the application to a residential care facility of any local ordinance that deals with health and safety, building standards, environmental impact standards, or any other matter within the jurisdiction of a local public entity if the ordinance does not distinguish residential care facilities that serve six or fewer persons from other family dwellings of the same type in the same zone and if the ordinance does not distinguish residents of residential care facilities from persons who reside in other family dwellings of the same type in the same zone.

(5)   No conditional use permit, zoning variance, or other zoning clearance shall be required of a residential care facility that serves six or fewer persons that is not required of a family dwelling of the same type in the same zone.

(6)   Use of a family dwelling for purposes of a residential care facility serving six or fewer persons shall not constitute a change of occupancy for purposes of Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 17910) of Division 13 or local building codes. However, nothing in this section is intended to supersede Section 13143 or 13143.6, to the extent these sections are applicable to residential care facilities serving six or fewer persons.

(b)   No fire inspection clearance or other permit, license, clearance, or similar authorization shall be denied to a residential care facility because of a failure to comply with local ordinances from which the facilities are exempt under subdivision (a), provided that the applicant otherwise qualifies for the fire clearance, license, permit, or similar authorization.

(c)   For the purposes of any contract, deed, or covenant for the transfer of real property executed on or after January 1, 1979, a residential care facility that serves six or fewer persons shall be considered a residential use of property and a use of property by a single family, notwithstanding any disclaimers to the contrary.

(d)   Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the imposition of rent regulations or controls for licensed residential care facilities.

(e)   Licensed residential care facilities shall not be subject to controls on rent imposed by any state or local agency or other local government or entity. [2014]