Care Homes and Group Homes

Care Home

The City of Scottsdale desires to allow disabled persons to reside in single-family residential neighborhoods in compliance with the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act while maintaining the residential character of neighborhoods and preventing a concentration of facilities. As such, a Care Home for disabled residents is allowed in single family residential zoning districts subject to the following:

• Home shall be licensed by the State of Arizona
• Floor area ratio is limited to 35% of the net lot area
• Maximum capacity of ten disabled residents and two full time care givers
• Shall not be located within 1200 feet of another care home as measured from lot line to lot line
• Home and premises shall be maintained in a clean manner consistent with the surrounding neighborhood
• Parking for owner and staff must be provided on site
• An emergency contact name and phone number shall be provided
• City of Scottsdale business registration license is required

Care Home Definition

Care home shall mean a dwelling shared as a primary residence by no more than ten adults with a disability that is licensed as a health care institution under Arizona law, and in which on-site supervisory or other care services are provided to the disabled residents. For purposes of this definition, a person must live in the dwelling a minimum of thirty consecutive days for this dwelling to be considered a primary residence. A care home is a principal, not an accessory, use. 

Process to Gain Approval for a Licensed Care Home in the City of Scottsdale

1. Owner/Applicant shall submit a Pre-Application Request along with the associated fee. Owner/Applicant will then be contacted by city staff via e-mail with additional paperwork required along with the contact information for the city Planner assigned. The Owner/Applicant works with the city Planner and provides all required paperwork. Once the city Planner can verify that the proposed Care Home complies with the applicable sections of the Zoning Ordinance, Section 5.012.A.2 or 5.102.A.2. a care home (AC) case will be created and the property will be mapped.
   Applicants pursuing a Care Home on a vacant lot must submit a full set of final plans and have gone through at least one complete plan review cycle before staff will issue zoning approval (AC case), and map the location for the use.

   Submit a Pre-Application Request

   Please be advised that City of Scottsdale zoning/spacing approval (AC case) is contingent upon state licensing. City of Scottsdale zoning approval (AC case) will expire after 180 days if the applicant has failed to submit proof of license from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
2. Owner/Applicant will then pay for a “Certificate of Occupancy for Existing Building” permit at the One Stop Shop 7447 E Indian School Road, Suite 105. The proposed Care home is required to undergo a Building and Fire inspection within 24 hours of obtaining a “C of O for Existing Building” permit. Care homes housing five or fewer are classified as R-3 occupancy and care homes with 6 to 10 residents are classified as R-4 occupancy.
   Please be advised, this permit is valid for 180 days from the date of the zoning approval (AC case).
3. The City of Scottsdale Building Inspector and Fire Inspector signify approval of the “C of O for Existing Building” permit and will issue a new Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
4. Owner/Applicant submits the new C of O along with all other required materials to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
5. Owner/Applicant shall provide a copy of the Arizona Department of Health Services license certificate to the city Planner within 180 days of zoning approval (AC case). If Owner/Applicant fails to provide the license within a 180-day window the property will be removed from the Care Home map layer and a Code Compliance Inspector may visit the property.
6. Owner/Applicant shall submit evidence of a Business Registration License from the City of Scottsdale to the city Planner within the 180-day window of the zoning approval (AC case).
   Please be advised that City of Scottsdale zoning/spacing approval is contingent upon state licensing. City of Scottsdale zoning approval (AC case) will expire after 180 days if the applicant has failed to submit proof of license from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Resources

• Care Home Online Map
• Property Information Request Application
• Arizona Department of Health Services Licensing Website
• Affidavit of Authorization to Act for Property Owner (PDF)
• Application - Floor Plan Example (PDF)
• City of Scottsdale Fire Ordinance Requirements (PDF)

Group Home

Group Home Definition

Group home means a dwelling shared by more than six adults as their primary residence in which no supervisory or other care is provided. For purposes of this definition, a person must live in the dwelling a minimum of thirty consecutive days for this dwelling to be considered a primary residence.

Allowed in R-2, R-3, R-4, R-4R, and R-5 only.