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STRATEGIC OUTCOMES |
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ACTION |
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Department: |
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Safe & Prosperous |
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Motion |
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Community Development |
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Active & Appealing |
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Resolution |
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Respected & Responsible |
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Ordinance - Introduction |
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Division: |
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Connected & Engaged |
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Ordinance - Adoption |
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Community Planning |
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Unique & Creative |
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Public Hearing |
TITLE:
title
Text Amendment: Residential Care Homes
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SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION:
Summary Recommendation
Amend Title 15, Chapter 154, Article 01, Section 07, Definitions for Nursing and Personal Care Facility, and Residential Care Home, to update the maximum allowed number of residents. (Community Development/Community Planning) (Alyssa Linville)
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STRATEGIC OUTCOME:
The proposed text amendment will ensure City regulations reflect recent modifications to state law, supporting the City Council’s strategic outcome of Respected and Responsible.
REPORT:
The purpose of this text amendment is to align the City of Yuma zoning code with State of Arizona statute for residential care facilities. Recent changes in statute with regard to the number of residents who may reside at an assisted living home have prompted staff to review the City code and propose the attached text amendment.
Senate Bill 1473, approved by the legislature and signed by the Governor on April 7, 2026, requires that municipal ordinances may not impose a cap of less than ten residents within a residential care facility.
The City of Yuma zoning code identifies two different categories of residential care homes, Residential Care Home, and Nursing and Personal Care Facility, which are categorized by the type of medical care and the number of residents.
Currently, the zoning code sets a cap of six residents in a Residential Care Home. The Residential Care Home is intended to provide a family type environment in a residential setting. The zoning code allows Residential Care Homes in the residential and commercial zoning districts as a permitted use and as a conditional use in some industrial districts. With this amendment, the maximum number of residents allowed will increase from six to ten.
A Nursing and Personal Care Facility is a facility primarily engaged in providing inpatient nursing and health related personal care, such as convalescent homes, and would typically have 7 or more residents. The zoning code currently allows Nursing and Personal Care facilities in commercial zoning districts as a permitted use and as a conditional use in some industrial districts. With this amendment, the minimum number of residents allowed will increase from seven to eleven.
On July 27, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend APPROVAL (4-0) of the request by the City of Yuma for a Zoning Code Text Amendment to amend Title15, Chapter 154, Article 01, Section 07, Definitions for Nursing and Personal Care Facility, and Residential Care Home, to update the maximum allowed number of residents.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - EXCERPT FROM PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES:
QUESTIONS FOR STAFF
“Vice Chairman John Mahon asked whether someone wanting to establish this type of use in a residential district would need additional licensing or approval, and how the City would monitor such uses. Moreno-nunez answered yes, the amendment would allow potential care homes to have ten residents. Vice Chairman Mahon asked if the number of allowable residents was based off of the square footage of the home. Moreno-nunez replied no, it is defined in the state statute.
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
“Motion by Commissioner Jorge Gonzalez second by Commissioner Luis Cuevas to APPROVE ZONE-45326-2026 as presented.”
“Motion carried unanimously, (4-0) with two absent and one vacancy.”
FISCAL REQUIREMENTS:
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CITY FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
BUDGETED: |
$ 0.00 |
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STATE FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
AVAILABLE TO TRANSFER: |
$ 0.00 |
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FEDERAL FUNDS: |
$ 0.00 |
IN CONTINGENCY: |
$ 0.00 |
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OTHER SOURCES: |
$ 0.00 |
FUNDING ACCOUNT/FUND #/CIP: |
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TOTAL |
$ 0.00 |
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
NONE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS NOT ATTACHED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ACTION FORM THAT ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK:
NONE
IF CITY COUNCIL ACTION INCLUDES A CONTRACT, LEASE OR AGREEMENT, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTING THE DOCUMENT FOR SIGNATURE AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL?
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Department |
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City Clerk’s Office |
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Document to be recorded |
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Document to be codified |
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Acting City Administrator: |
Date: |
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John D. Simonton |
08/25/2026 |
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Reviewed by City Attorney: |
Date: |
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Richard W. Files |
08/25/2026 |