1. P&Z REPORT Zoning Code Text Amendment: Assisted Living Homes Occupancy Zoning

STAFF REPORT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY PLANNING DIVISION
CASE TYPE – TEXT AMENDMENT
CASE PLANNER: GUILLERMO MORENO-NUNEZ
Hearing Date July 27, 2026 Case Number: ZONE-45326-2026
Project Description: This is a request by the City of Yuma for a Zoning Code Text
Amendment to amend Title 15, Chapter 154, Article 01, Section 07,
Definitions, Nursing and Personal Care Facility, and Residential Care
Home, to update the maximum allowed number of residents.
Staff recommendation: Staff recommends APPROVAL of the text amendment to amend Title
15, Chapter 154, Article 01, Section 07, Definitions, Nursing and
Personal Care Facility, Residential Care Home, to update the maximum
allowed number of residents.
Suggested Motion: Move to APPROVE the text amendment ZONE-45326-2026 as
presented in the staff report.
Effect of the Approval: By approving the text amendment, the Planning and Zoning Commission
is recommending approval to City Council for the request to amend Title
15, Chapter 154, Article 01, Section 07, Definitions, Nursing and
Personal Care Facility, Residential Care Home, to update the maximum
allowed number of residents.
Staff Analysis: 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 proposed the attached text
amendment.
Senate Bill 1473, approved by the legislature and signed by the Governor on April
7, 2026, requires by ordinance that municipalities 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
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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.
1. Does the proposed amendment implement the goals, objectives and policies of the General
Plan?
Yes The City of Yuma General Plan Housing chapter Goal 1.0 specifically addresses the
need to provide safe and affordable housing with a targeted objective and policy to
encourage a variety of housing types and support of State and Federal fair housing laws.
2. Does the proposed amendment fit the overall purpose and intent of the zoning ordinance?
Yes This amendment supports the Zoning ordinance and brings the text into alignment with
State statute.
3. Will the proposed amendment change the range of uses identified in the zoning code? If so,
how?
N/A
4. Will the proposed text amendment change the development standards of the zoning or
subdivision ordinances? If so, how?
Yes This amendment increases the maximum allowed number of residents in a Residential
Care Home.
5. What are the potential impacts of the proposed amendment?
The amendment might have an impact in traffic flow within a residential setting.
6. Does the proposed amendment fit the overall purpose and intent of the subdivision ordinance?
N/A
7. Does the proposed amendment conform to prior City Council actions regarding this issue?
Yes This amendment supports City Council’s commitment to support State and Federal Fair
Housing laws.
Public Comments Received: None Received
External Agency Comments: See Attachment C
Neighborhood Meeting No Meeting Required.
Comments:
Final staff report delivered to applicant on: July 2, 2026
Attachments:
A B C
Draft Text Agency Notification Agency Comments
Prepared By: Guillermo Moreno-nunez Date: June 20, 2026
Guillermo Moreno-nunez
Associate Planner Guillermo.moreno-nunez@yumaaz.gov (928) 373-5000, x3038
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Reviewed By: Jennifer L. Albers Date: 6/22/26
Jennifer L. Albers
Assistant Director of Planning
Approved By: Alyssa Linville Date: 07/02/26
Alyssa Linville
Director, Planning and Neighborhood Services
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ATTACHMENT A
DRAFT TEXT
SECTION 1: That the Yuma City Code, Title 15, Chapter 154, Article 1, Section 7
Definitions, Subsection B be amended to insert the bolded text and delete the strike through
text:
§154-01.07 Definitions. (B)
NURSING AND PERSONAL CARE FACILITY. Establishments primarily
engaged in providing inpatient nursing and health-related personal care to
eleven seven or more residents, such as convalescent homes with health care
and rest homes with health care. These facilities shall not include any persons
whose occupancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of
other individuals or would result in substantial physical damage to the
property of others. This definition is inclusive of the Assisted Living Center
with eleven seven or more residents and the Adult Foster Care Facility with
five or more residents as defined by A.R.S. § 36-401.
RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME. Establishments primarily engaged in the
provision of social and personal care in a residential setting for ten six or
fewer persons with limits on ability for self-care. Included are establishments
providing 24-hour year-round care for children. These facilities shall not
include any persons whose occupancy would constitute a direct threat to the
health or safety of other individuals or would result in substantial physical
damage to the property of others. Establishments of this type located within
any residential districts shall not be located within 1,200 feet of another
residential care home that is also located within any residential district. This
definition is inclusive of the Group Home and the Nursing-Supported Group
Home with six or fewer residents as defined by A.R.S § 36-551. This
definition is inclusive of the Assisted Living Home with ten six or fewer
residents and the Adult Foster Care Home with four or fewer residents as
defined by A.R.S. § 36-401.
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ATTACHMENT B
AGENCY NOTIFICATION
o Legal Ad Published: The Sun 06/19/26 o Hearing Date: 07/13/26
o 34 Commenting/Reviewing Agencies noticed: 05/28/26 o Comments due: 06/08/26
o Neighborhood Meeting: N/A
External List (Comments) Response Date “No Written Comments
Received Received Comment” Comments Attached
Yuma County Airport Authority NR
Yuma County Engineering NR
Yuma County Public Works NR
Yuma County Water Users’ Assoc. YES 06/01/26 X
Yuma County Planning & Zoning YES 06/02/26 X
Yuma County Assessor NR
Arizona Public Service NR
Time Warner Cable NR
Southwest Gas NR
Qwest Communications NR
Bureau of Land Management NR
YUHS District #70 NR
Yuma Elem. School District #1 NR
Crane School District #13 NR
A.D.O.T. NR
Yuma Irrigation District NR
Arizona Game and Fish NR
United States Postal Service NR
Yuma Metropolitan Planning Org. NR
El Paso Natural Gas Co. NR
Western Area Power Administration NR
City of Yuma Internal List Response Date “No Written Comments
(Conditions) Received Received Conditions” Conditions Attached
Police NR
Parks & Recreation NR
Development Engineering NR
Fire NR
Building Safety NR
City Engineer NR
Traffic Engineer NR
MCAS / C P & L Office YES 06/02/26 X
Utilities NR
Public Works NR
Streets NR
Neighborhood Meeting Comments Available
None Required N/A
PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED: NONE
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ATTACHMENT C
AGENCY COMMENTS
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