David DeBerry is city attorney for the City of Orange and can be
reached at ddeberry@cityoforange.org.
Jeff Ballinger is city attorney for the City of San Jacinto and
an attorney in the Riverside office of the law firm Best Best &
Krieger; he can be reached at Jeff.Ballinger@bbklaw.com.
Group homes have long had a presence, albeit a
controversial one, in California. Because neighbors are
often concerned about noise, traffic, crime, safety and a
decline in property values associated with group homes, city
council members are frequently besieged with demands from
constituents that a group home not be allowed in their
neighborhood. This article addresses some of the policy and legal
implications of group homes, with a focus on sober living
facilities.