A “special permit” is a permit issued in addition to a license, authorizing a health facility to offer one or more of the special services specified in Section 1255 when the state department has determined that the health facility has met the standards for quality of care established by state department pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 1275).
Source:
Section 1251.5, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1251.5..