Costa Mesa group homes failing to obtain new permits; deadline is Wednesday

Compliance with a new Costa Mesa law that requires group homes to obtain permits is lagging, city officials said Tuesday.

About 30% of the so-called sober-living homes have sought permits in advance of Wednesday’s deadline.

Those out of compliance could face fines or closure.

Sixteen of an estimated 50 homes — many of which provide drug- and alcohol-free conditions for a transient population in recovery from addiction — had applied for the permits as of Tuesday.

The remaining facilities are still being encouraged to apply, but they may start receiving violation notices and fines from the city’s code-enforcement department.

“The sooner they come into compliance, the better,” said Jerry Guarracino, an assistant director in the city’s Community Improvement Division. “We’d rather not issue fines if we don’t have to.”

Mandated under a City Council ordinance approved last fall, the permits seek to institute standards at the homes, including adhering to a “good neighbor” policy and providing a live-in manager.

The ordinance also seeks to prevent a proliferation of group homes by requiring them to be at least 650 feet from another, a limitation that could force many to close or relocate.

Applicants have up to two years to achieve compliance.

The law only applies to group homes in single-family neighborhoods, though a second ordinance in the works would regulate the facilities in multifamily areas.

The permits are being issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

The law is being challenged by two federal lawsuits alleging that Costa Mesa is discriminating against a protected class of people — alcoholics and drug addicts in recovery are protected by state and federal housing laws.

One of the lawsuits, filed by Solid Landings Behavioral Health, operates 20 to 30 homes in Costa Mesa, according to City Hall estimates. The firm has not applied for any permits.

Solid Landings’ homes are a fraction, however, of all sober-living facilities throughout the city. Costa Mesa has an estimated 150 group homes in residential areas and 37 associated facilities, mostly in commercial and industrial zones, that provide treatment, counseling and other services.

Forty-seven homes in Costa Mesa have state licenses.