L Meaning of Domicile. The term "domicile" has a special legal definition that is not the same as residence."Domicile" is the one location with which for legal purposes a person is considered to have the most settled and permanent connection. The property must be your principal place of residence and you can only have one declaration at a time. The property must be located in Riverside County. Eligible students that intend to become residents of California must fulfill both the Physical Presence and Intent requirements listed below. A residence is a place of some permanency, while a domicile is a true, fixed permanent home to which an individual intends to return after an absence. There are four residence requirements you must meet in order to qualify for California resident status. A legal resident of California must complete three requirements: 1.