Opinion ID: 1226541
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Health and Safety Code Section 1520.5

Text: We are not unmindful of City's reliance on section 1520.5 of the Health and Safety Code. This section was designed to prevent the overconcentration of residential facilities in residential neighborhoods, and provides in relevant part: (a) The Legislature hereby declares it to be the policy of the state to prevent overconcentrations of residential care facilities which impair the integrity of residential neighborhoods. Therefore, the director shall deny an application for a new residential care facility license if the director determines that the location is in such proximity to an existing residential care facility as would result in overconcentration. (b) As used in this section, `overconcentration' means that if a new license is issued, there will be residential care facilities which are separated by a distance of 300 feet or less, as measured from any point upon the outside walls of the structures housing such facilities. Based on special local needs and conditions, the director may approve a separation distance of less than 300 feet with the approval of the city or county in which the proposed facility will be located. The section is directed at facilities, not the number of patients in the facility. The establishment of a service for 15 persons does not constitute, therefore, an over-concentration merely because it cares for more than 6 residents.