A younger spouse, a son who wants to move in and help Mom, or a 48-year-old who inherited Dad’s home in Leisure Village will all run into the same set of rules. It’s a lot easier to learn them before anybody packs a box.

Everything below comes from the Association’s own Rules & Regulations (Update November 2025), mostly Article XXI. I’ll walk you through it in plain words, one situation at a time.

The Basic Age Rule in Leisure Village

Leisure Village is a deed restricted, age restricted community, and the Association says it’s their policy to strictly enforce the age rules. The rules point back to California Civil Code Section 51.3, so this isn’t a casual house rule that gets waved through.

Here’s how it works. At least one resident of each home has to be a “permissible occupant,” which means a person 55 or older. Every other person living in that home has to be a “qualified permanent resident.” If they don’t fit that definition, they can be a guest, but they can’t live there.

• ✓Proof of age. The Association copies one document showing date of birth for the resident’s file: a driver’s license, birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or other government document.
• ✓Occupancy limit. Full-time occupancy is limited to four people per home.
• ✓Monthly fee. The monthly Association fee covers one occupant. Each additional person adds $20 per month.
• ✓Telling the office. The homeowner has to notify the Association Office in writing when the number of people in the home changes.

My Leisure Village quick facts post has the current dues by model, so you can add that $20 to the right number.

Who Counts as a Qualified Permanent Resident

This is the part people trip over, because the definition has two pieces. The person has to have been living with the 55+ resident before that resident’s death, hospitalization, other prolonged absence, or divorce. And the person has to fit one of the groups below.

But have you checked how this reads for your own family? The wording comes from state law and it isn’t the easiest to follow. So the first thing to do is call the moving company and… no, wait. The first thing to do is call the Association Office at (805) 484-2861, explain who wants to live in the home, and ask how the rule applies.

When the 55+ Resident Passes Away, Moves to Care, or Divorces

This is the hard one, and I want to be gentle about it. When someone loses a spouse, the last thing they need is to worry about being forced out of their home.

The rules protect that person. On the death, hospitalization, or other necessary prolonged absence of the 55+ resident, or on a divorce, a qualified permanent resident can keep living in the home. The rules call this person a “continuing occupant.”

That right can end, though. If a continuing occupant marries or lives with someone who doesn’t qualify, or loses their ownership interest or expectancy in the home, they have 60 days to move out. The exception is someone who has turned 55 by then, because that person now qualifies on their own.

People don’t think clearly in grieving mode. If this is your family right now, you don’t need to decide anything today. Know your options first, and bring your questions to an estate attorney when title or a trust is involved.

Adult Children, Grandkids, and Other Guests

Guests of any age are allowed. A bona fide guest can stay for a cumulative 90 days during any 12 consecutive months, as long as the 55+ resident is also living in the home. Those days add up, so three separate 30-day visits use the whole allowance.

A frequent visitor can get an annual guest pass, with up to three per home. Short-term passes last up to two weeks and have to be pre-approved by the resident host. My parking and guest pass guide covers where those guests can park.

Guests have to be with their resident host when using community facilities, and some amenities have age limits worth knowing before the grandkids come for a visit.

If You Inherited a Leisure Village Home and You’re Under 55

Inheriting the home and living in it are two separate questions. The age rules in Article XXI are written around who lives there. So if you’re under 55 and you don’t qualify as a permanent resident, moving in full time isn’t an option under the rules, even when your name ends up on the title.

• ✓Sell the home. A vacated home up for sale pays only the base monthly fee, and the seller has to tell the Association Office the home is on the market. My guide to the costly mistakes when selling in Leisure Village can help you avoid the common ones.
• ✓Rent it out. Leases need to be in writing, last at least 30 days, and have a tenant 55 or older. A 25% rental cap applies to owners who took title after January 3, 2022, so an heir may land on a waiting list. The Board can consider exceptions for death, illness, or dire emergency. See the Leisure Village rental rules for details.
• ✓Hold it for now. You would keep paying dues and upkeep on a home you can’t live in yet. Run those numbers with your CPA before you choose this one.

My post on what to do if you inherit a home in Leisure Village goes further into these choices. And if you’re the one planning ahead for your heirs, here’s why a trust matters. I explain why it matters and connect families with pros who can set one up.

What About Caregivers?

A day caregiver is simpler. The rules allow contractor passes for home health caregivers and domestic caregivers once a Contractor Pass Application is approved, for up to six months at a time and renewable. The usual 8 AM to 5 PM contractor hours and the Sunday restriction don’t apply to home health professionals or domestic help hired by residents.

A live-in caregiver under 55 is a different conversation. The old section on health care providers was removed from the rules on January 6, 2020, so there’s no special line to point to. A person giving the resident primary physical support may fit the qualified permanent resident definition, but don’t assume it. Ask the Association Office in writing before that person moves in. If a disability is part of the picture, an attorney can explain what the law requires.

A Checklist Before Anyone New Moves In

• ✓Confirm who in the home is 55 or older, and have a document showing date of birth ready.
• ✓Call the Association Office at (805) 484-2861 or email office@leisurevillage.org with your specific situation.
• ✓Notify the Association Office in writing about the change, and update the Association Information Form.
• ✓For guests, track the days so nobody passes 90 in a 12-month period.

Why This Matters in Leisure Village

If you’re buying in Leisure Village with a younger spouse or a family member, these rules belong on your list before you write an offer. If you’re helping a parent move to Leisure Village, the same goes for anyone planning to live with them. I’d much rather you know this now than find out after the moving truck shows up.

This post is general information based on the Leisure Village Association’s Rules & Regulations (Update November 2025). Rules can change, so please confirm the current version with the Association Office. I’m a Realtor, not an attorney or CPA. For legal or tax questions about your family’s situation, including title, trusts, probate, or fair housing, talk to an estate attorney or CPA.

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