Alcohol and drug treatment facilities: local regulation.

Land

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Dixon
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms by local governments.

Alcohol and Drug Treatment Facilities: Local Regulation

This law changes how local governments regulate alcohol and drug treatment facilities by allowing certain facilities to be exempt from residential property rules if they meet specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

Changes the way some alcohol and drug treatment facilities are treated under local zoning laws.
Exempts licensed or unlicensed recovery centers that serve more than six people, located within 300 feet of another similar facility with shared ownership or programs, from being considered residential properties.

Who It Names or Affects

Local governments that regulate alcohol and drug treatment facilities.
Owners of alcohol and drug recovery centers.

Terms To Know

Residential use: The way a property is used for living purposes, such as homes or apartments.
Licensed facility: A treatment center that has been officially approved to operate by the state.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if a facility does not meet the exemption criteria.
The law only applies to facilities licensed or operating after January 1, 2026.
It is unclear how local governments will enforce these changes.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-03-20 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2024-12-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
2024-12-02 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 3, as amended, Dixon.
Alcohol and drug treatment facilities: local regulation.
Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state that each county and city shall permit and encourage the development of sufficient numbers and types of alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities as are commensurate with local need. Existing law requires an alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility that serves 6 or fewer persons to be considered a residential use of property for the purposes of local regulation, regardless of whether or not unrelated persons are living together.
This bill would exempt an alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility
licensed on or after January 1, 2026,
from being considered a residential use of property for the purposes of local regulation if
the facility is located within 300 feet of another recovery or treatment facility, both facilities share the same owner
or director or share programs or amenities, and the total number of residents in both facilities is greater than 6.
multiple single-family dwellings are being used as a licensed or unlicensed alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility, they share an owner, a director, programs, or amenities with another facility, and any of the dwellings are within 300 feet of that facility, or if a single-family dwelling being used as an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility shares an owner, a director, programs, or amenities with another facility that is commercially owned, operated, and licensed that is located anywhere in the state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF