As demand for alcohol- and drug-free residences rises, pushback from undereducated communities is pitting providers against neighbors making facility and residence siting more challenging than ever. California saw four separate bills introduced to limit or ban sober living or treatment, giving local authorities vast new powers to create discriminatory zoning and permit ordinances. This trend is seen in several states as it spreads through the nation in response to addiction treatment expansion granted by the Affordable Care Act. A review of current legal suits concerning treatment zoning will end the presentation and ignite conversation about local advocacy efforts. The City of Yucipa case will be used to explore the development of NIMBY (not in my backyard) ordinance from their germination to court review.

• Be prepared to defend new efforts to limit sober living placement within communities by becoming familiar with current cases.
• Become well versed in the application of Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities Acts to local zoning and ordinance proposals so that effective advocacy can be applied in the local context.
• Apply sober living certification standards to community acceptance and stable neighborhood relationships.