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Murrieta council introduces amended ordinance regulating sober living homes after residents raise safety and parking concerns
Summary
After extended public testimony from neighbors about an unregulated recovery house, Murrieta Council introduced an ordinance to regulate unlicensed sober living homes, adding operational requirements, a six‑person occupancy limit, registration and monitoring, and a six‑month compliance target for existing homes (extensions up to one year). Council introduced the ordinance as amended, 4‑0.
The Murrieta City Council on Sept. 2 introduced a municipal‑code amendment to regulate unlicensed "sober living" homes in the city after residents delivered extensive testimony about a nearby recovery facility they said opened without adequate notice and operates adjacent to a licensed in‑home daycare.
Staff presentation and legal context: City staff (Mr. Shantaransu) told the council the proposed ordinance adds §16.44.045 to the municipal code and amends related sections to create registration and operational standards for unlicensed sober living homes. He summarized legal background that shapes what cities can regulate: state law treats certain licensed community care facilities as residential uses, but a recent court decision upholding Costa Mesa’s ordinance gives cities authority to impose spacing, permitting and operational requirements for unlicensed facilities if those rules align with federal and state fair‑housing protections and reasonable‑accommodation obligations.
Key provisions presented by staff: The draft ordinance, as explained…
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