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Exhibit 23:    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:

(1)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-100167) and related Prospectus of The Ryland Group, Inc.,

(2)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-113756) and related Prospectus of The Ryland Group, Inc.,

(3)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-121469) and related Prospectus of The Ryland Group, Inc.,

(4)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-124000) and related Prospectus of The Ryland Group, Inc.,

(5)

Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-157170) and related Prospectus of The Ryland Group, Inc.,

(6)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-32431) pertaining to The Ryland Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Opportunity Plan,

(7)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-68397) pertaining to The Ryland Group, Inc. Executive and Director Deferred Compensation Plan and The Ryland Group, Inc. Non-Employee Directors' Stock Unit Plan,

(8)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-133602) pertaining to The Ryland Group, Inc. 2006 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan, and

(9)

Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-150465) pertaining to The Ryland Group, Inc. 2008 Equity Incentive Plan;

of our reports dated February 26, 2010, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of The Ryland Group, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of The Ryland Group, Inc., included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2009.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Ernst & Young LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 26, 2010

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Exhibit 23: Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm