Garden Grove · Land use · Emergency shelter
Where is an emergency shelter allowed in Garden Grove?
In Garden Grove, an emergency shelter is allowed in 1 base zone (M-1, it with a condition) and not allowed in 6 (Garden Grove use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: M-1
- Not allowed: O-P, C-1, C-2, C-3, M-P and O-S
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Garden Grove Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where an emergency shelter can go
Garden Grove's code calls this use “Emergency Shelter (Homeless)”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| M-1 Limited Industrial | Allowed — see note Note comment: See Section 9.16.020.050.W Note § 9.16.020.050.W.1: Emergency shelters shall be permitted in those areas shown on the map attached to the ordinance codified in this subsection, which shall constitute the Emergency Shelter Overlay Zone. | § 9.16.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: § 9.16.020.050.W Emergency Shelters (Homeless): shelter overlay map, max 60 beds, 120-day stay, 300 feet between shelters.
- Low-Barrier Navigation Center is a separate row (M-1 "P 1": only in the Emergency Shelter Overlay Zone, subsection C of Section 9.60.070). "Group Shelter" is a different row (R-3 C, O-S C).
- State law: State law (Gov. Code § 65583, SB 2) requires every city to allow emergency shelters by right in at least one zone.
- Not covered here: PUD (planned unit development) zones and specific plans (Chapter 9.28: each specific plan has its own use list); Overlay zones (Emergency Shelter Overlay Zone) and any other zone whose use table is not in the packet; R-1 use table covers R-1 only; commercial/industrial table has no residential rows. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Garden Grove
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an emergency shelter in the O-P zone in Garden Grove?
No. Garden Grove's use table does not allow it in O-P (Office-Professional) (§ 9.16.020).
Can I have an emergency shelter in the M-1 zone in Garden Grove?
Yes, with a condition. Garden Grove's use table lists it as allowed in M-1 (Limited Industrial) (§ 9.16.020). The code adds a condition: “See Section 9.16.020.050.W Emergency shelters shall be permitted in those areas shown on the map attached to the ordinance codified in this subsection, which shall constitute the Emergency Shelter Overlay Zone.”
General information, not legal advice.
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