Code Section

1267.8.  

(a)  An intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing or a congregate living health facility shall meet the same fire safety standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Sections 13113, 13113.5, 13143, and 13143.6 that apply to community care facilities, as defined in Section 1502, of similar size and with residents of similar age and ambulatory status. No other state or local regulations relating to fire safety shall apply to these facilities and the requirements specified in this section shall be uniformly enforced by state and local fire authorities.

(b)  An intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing or a congregate living health facility shall meet the same seismic safety requirements applied to community care facilities of similar size with residents of similar age and ambulatory status. No additional requirements relating to seismic safety shall apply to such facilities.

(c)  Whether or not unrelated persons are living together, an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative which serves six or fewer persons or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing which serves six or fewer persons or a congregate living health facility shall be considered a residential use of property for the purposes of this article. In addition, the residents and operators of the facility shall be considered a family for the purposes of any law or zoning ordinance that is related to the residential use of property pursuant to this article.

(d) For the purposes of all local ordinances, an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative that serves six or fewer persons or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing that serves six or fewer persons or a congregate living health facility shall not be included within the definition of a boarding house, rooming house, institution or home for the care of minors, the aged, or persons with mental health disorders, foster care home, guest home, rest home, community residence, or other similar term that implies that the intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative or intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing or a congregate living health facility is a business run for profit or differs in any other way from a single-family residence.

(e) This section does not forbid a city, county, or other local public entity from placing restrictions on building heights, setback, lot dimensions, or placement of signs of an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative that serves six or fewer persons or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing that serves six or fewer persons or a congregate living health facility as long as those restrictions are identical to those applied to other single-family residences.

(f) This section does not forbid the application to an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing or a congregate living health 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, as long as that ordinance does not distinguish intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative that serves six or fewer persons or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing or a congregate living health facility from other single-family dwellings and that the ordinance does not distinguish residents of the intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative or intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing that serves six or fewer persons or a congregate living health facility from persons who reside in other single-family dwellings.

(g) No conditional use permit, zoning variance, or other zoning clearance shall be required of an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative that serves six or fewer persons or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing that serves six or fewer persons or a congregate living health facility that is not required of a single-family residence in the same zone.

(h) Use of a single-family dwelling for purposes of an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative serving six or fewer persons or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing that serves six or fewer persons or a congregate living health facility 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 supersedes Section 13143 to the extent these provisions are applicable to intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled habilitative providing care for six or fewer residents or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled—nursing serving six or fewer persons or a congregate living health facility.