Capitola · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Capitola?
In Capitola, a child care center is needs a permit in 7 (R-1, RM, MH, MU-V, MU-N and 2 more) and not allowed in 1 (Capitola use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-1, RM, MH, MU-V, MU-N, C-C and C-R
- Not allowed: I
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Capitola Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a child care center can go
Capitola's code calls this use “Day Care Centers”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| R-1 Single-Family Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.16.020 |
| RM Multifamily Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.16.020 |
| MH Mobile Home Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.16.020 |
| MU-V Mixed Use, Village | Needs a minor use permit | § 17.20.020 |
| MU-N Mixed Use, Neighborhood | Needs a minor use permit | § 17.20.020 |
| C-C Community Commercial | Needs a minor use permit | § 17.24.020 |
| C-R Regional Commercial | Needs a minor use permit | § 17.24.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
I.
What else applies
- Home Day Care (family day care home) is a separate row
- State law: A licensed family child care home in a house is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1597.45); this page covers child care centers only.
- Not covered here: Visitor Serving (-VS) overlay subzones and the -VR overlay have their own use tables and are not base zones. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Capitola
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the R-1 zone in Capitola?
Only with a conditional use permit. Capitola's use table lists it that way in R-1 (Single-Family Residential) (§ 17.16.020).
Can I have a child care center in the I zone in Capitola?
No. Capitola's use table does not allow it in I (Industrial) (§ 17.24.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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