California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1267.16

(a) A congregate living health facility which serves six or fewer persons shall be considered a residential use of property for purposes of any zoning ordinance or law related to the residential use of property.  This article does not forbid any city, county, or local public entity from placing restrictions on building heights, setback, lot dimensions, or placement of signs of a congregate living health facility as long as these restrictions are identical to those applied to single-family residences.

(b) This article does not forbid the application to a congregate living health facility of any local ordinance which deals with health and safety, building standards, environmental impact standards, or any other matter within the jurisdiction of a local public entity, except as provided in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 1267.9 and this section.

(c) Any congregate living health facility of more than six beds for persons who are terminally ill and any congregate living health facility of more than six beds for persons who are catastrophically and severely disabled shall be subject to the conditional use permit requirements of the city or county in which it is located unless those requirements are waived by the city or county.  However, any facility that, on the effective date of this section, is performing the functions of a congregate living health facility for persons who are terminally ill and that is subsequently licensed as a congregate living health facility within 18 months of the effective date of this section shall not be subject to the conditional use permit requirements of the city or county in which it is located, unless the number of beds is increased.