Irvine city officials are set to consider increasing enforcement measures for problematic sober living homes as a growing number of Orange County cities look to add regulations for drug and alcohol treatment facilities.

Councilmember Melinda Liu placed an item on Tuesday night’s agenda requesting that staff draft up an ordinance to give the city more power over the application, requirements and permitting for group homes and sober living homes.

These facilities are meant to provide residential space for people battling alcoholism or drug addiction to stay sober and participate in a recovery program. 

However, these homes often draw complaints from locals about noise, drug use or other disturbances in residential neighborhoods.

A memo from Liu, included with Tuesday night’s agenda, emphasized the need to control more of the regulations among these facilities that can be problematic.

“In Irvine, several Sober Living Homes were identified as a result of concerns over violations of health and safety codes relating to patient care,” reads the memo. “Therefore, it is urgent and essential for local governments to enhance enforcement against facilities that are unlicensed or in violation.”

The memo also describes a violent incident from July 2024 that left one resident of a group home dead, caused by another resident in the same home. The memo points to this incident as an example of why increased enforcement is necessary.

“The need to expand local government authority and enforcement over Sober Living and Group Homes is vital to protecting our Irvine residents,” reads the memo. “Strengthening our City agencies, and expanding ongoing partnerships with our State and Federal partners, would highlight the effort to ensure safety and security for all residents.” 

Other cities in Orange County have already taken steps to regulate group homes, most notably the City of Costa Mesa, which is discussed at length in Liu’s memo.

Costa Mesa city officials first enacted a sober living home ordinance in 2014 — those regulations established a minimum buffer limit of 650 feet between two group homes.

A 2015 update also required that all sober living homes obtain a special permit if they served seven or more occupants. The County of Orange also passed similar regulations in 2020, which were modeled after Costa Mesa’s ordinance.

Costa Mesa’s regulations led to a lawsuit between the city and a treatment center in the city called Ohio House. Although it had been operating in the city since 2012, the city denied Ohio House’s permit since the facility was located within 650 feet of four other group homes.

Ohio House’s lawsuit included claims of unlawful discrimination against the disabled residents of the group home, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the city’s requirements were legal in a December 2024 ruling.

[Read: Costa Mesa Scores Legal Victory in Sober Living Home Court Battle]

After Costa Mesa’s legal victory, the path has opened for other cities to follow suit.

Earlier this year, Mission Viejo officials unanimously approved their own rules for group homes, requiring a permit process, parking regulations and a buffer zone between other sober living homes.

[Read: Another Orange County City Cracks Down on Sober Living Homes]

“All local government actions from the City of Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, and the County of Orange signify the magnitude of strengthening local regulations,” reads Irvine Councilmember Liu’s memo. 

“Although Sober Living and Group Homes focus on genuine services for recovery, safeguarding residents is critical for our communities.”

Officials in other Orange County cities like Fountain Valley and Buena Park have also tightened rules on sober living homes after a 2023 OC Grand Jury report found group homes are located too close together and are a large source of neighborhood disruptions. 

Grand jurors also found that some cities with laws to regulate group homes aren’t enforcing them.

[Read: Orange County Cities Grapple With Drug Treatment Facilities]

Most recently, Santa Ana officials directed staff to bring back an ordinance regulating group homes during a meeting last month.

Meanwhile, state legislators are trying to boost local oversight of sober living homes with a host of new bills.

In March, State Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) reintroduced a bill — SB35 — that would allow local jurisdictions to investigate sober living homes to ensure they are adhering to state regulations.

Earlier this year, Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) introduced AB492, which requires state health officials to notify local leaders when a new treatment facility opens up shop in their jurisdiction.

A statewide ballot measure from last year’s primary election is also bringing up questions about group homes in California.

The measure, known as Prop 1, authorizes $6.4 billion in bonds to create more housing for homeless people and drug treatment centers and was narrowly passed by voters in the March 5 primary election last year.

Irvine’s city council meeting begins Tuesday at 5 p.m. with closed session at city hall. Open session begins at 6 p.m.

Angelina Hicks is the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service Editor. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.