Group homes and residential care in Sunnyvale

Each rule below links to the section of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Sunnyvale's code says

Sunnyvale code What Sunnyvale's code adds
Homes for 7 or more	A use permit is required. Applies: Applies to licensed residential care facilities for 7 or more residents, in all zoning districts. § 19.64.040 · code text Residential care facilities which have been established to accommodate seven or more residents, not including any provider or provider's family or staff, shall be allowed in all zoning districts, provided the facility is licensed by the appropriate state or county agency or department and complies with the following requirements: A use permit is required. Applies: Applies to unlicensed residential care facilities for 7 or more, in medium and high density residential zones and nonresidential zones allowing residential uses. § 19.64.040 · code text Residential care facilities for seven or more which are not required to be licensed by a state or county agency or department shall be allowed in medium and high density residential zoning districts and nonresidential zoning districts allowing residential uses, only with a use permit issued pursuant to Chapter 19.88, and in accordance with the findings specified in Section 19.64.070.
Homes for 6 or fewer	Exempt from the chapter's provisions. Applies: Applies to facilities licensed by the appropriate state or county agency. § 19.64.030 · code text Residential care facilities consisting of six or fewer residents, not including any provider or provider's family or staff, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter provided the facility is licensed by the appropriate state or county agency or department. A use permit is required. Applies: Applies to unlicensed residential care facilities for 6 or fewer, in all residential zoning districts. § 19.64.030 · code text Residential care facilities for six or fewer which are not required to be licensed by a state or county agency or department shall be allowed in all residential zoning districts, with a use permit issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.88, and in accordance with the findings specified in Section 19.64.070.
Distance between homes	Facilities must be at least 500 feet apart. Applies: Applies to a residential care facility for more than 6 residents, from another such facility, unless a use permit authorizes otherwise. § 19.64.060 · code text No residential care facility established to accommodate more than six residents shall be allowed to be located within five hundred feet of the boundaries of a parcel with another such facility,
Where allowed	Allowed in all residential zoning districts. Applies: Applies to unlicensed residential care facilities for 6 or fewer, with a use permit. § 19.64.030 · code text Residential care facilities for six or fewer which are not required to be licensed by a state or county agency or department shall be allowed in all residential zoning districts, with a use permit issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.88, and in accordance with the findings specified in Section 19.64.070. Allowed in all zoning districts. Applies: Applies to licensed residential care facilities for 7 or more residents. § 19.64.040 · code text Residential care facilities which have been established to accommodate seven or more residents, not including any provider or provider's family or staff, shall be allowed in all zoning districts, provided the facility is licensed by the appropriate state or county agency or department and complies with the following requirements: Allowed in medium and high density residential zones and nonresidential zones allowing residential uses. Applies: Applies to unlicensed residential care facilities for 7 or more, only with a use permit. § 19.64.040 · code text Residential care facilities for seven or more which are not required to be licensed by a state or county agency or department shall be allowed in medium and high density residential zoning districts and nonresidential zoning districts allowing residential uses, only with a use permit issued pursuant to Chapter 19.88, and in accordance with the findings specified in Section 19.64.070.

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Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Sunnyvale?

Sunnyvale's code: A use permit is required. (Applies to licensed residential care facilities for 7 or more residents, in all zoning districts.) (§ 19.64.040); A use permit is required. (Applies to unlicensed residential care facilities for 7 or more, in medium and high density residential zones and nonresidential zones allowing residential uses.) (§ 19.64.040).

Group homes and residential care in Sunnyvale

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