Carmel-by-the-Sea · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
In Carmel-by-the-Sea, a child care center is needs a conditional use permit in 5 (R-1, R-4, SC, RC and A-3, 2 with a condition) and not allowed in 3 (Carmel-by-the-Sea use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-1, R-4, SC, RC and A-3
- Not allowed: CC, A-1 and A-2
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Carmel-by-the-Sea 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
Carmel-by-the-Sea'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 R-1 District | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note C-2: Allowed only on existing quasi-public use sites established prior to December 1, 1980, or added as an accessory use to such existing uses. | § 17.08.040 |
| R-4 | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note C-4: Limited to existing commercial spaces established prior to 1993 and occupied by commercial uses continuously since that time. | § 17.08.040 |
| SC | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.14.030 |
| RC | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.14.030 |
| A-3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.18.070 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- 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: Zone names not stated in the packet. Schedules: II-1 residential R-1/R-4 (S1), II-B commercial CC/SC/RC (S5), II-C park P-1/P-2 (S7), II-D A-1/A-2/A-3 (S8). Overlay and community plan districts have no use table in the packet.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the R-1 zone in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Only with a conditional use permit. Carmel-by-the-Sea's use table lists it that way in R-1 (R-1 District) (§ 17.08.040). The code adds a condition: “Allowed only on existing quasi-public use sites established prior to December 1, 1980, or added as an accessory use to such existing uses.”
Can I have a child care center in the CC zone in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
No. Carmel-by-the-Sea's use table does not allow it in CC (§ 17.14.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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