Commerce · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Commerce?
In Commerce, a child care center is needs a conditional use permit in 3 (R-2, R-3 and C-2, all with a condition) and not allowed in 1 (Commerce use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-2, R-3 and C-2
- Not allowed: R-1
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Commerce 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
Commerce's code calls this use “Child Care Center”. 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-2 Medium Density Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note *: Special use conditions and/or development standards apply (conditions in Chapter 19.31, Standards for Specific Land Uses) | Division 1 — PERMITTED USES AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS |
| R-3 High Density Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note *: Special use conditions and/or development standards apply (conditions in Chapter 19.31, Standards for Specific Land Uses) | Division 1 — PERMITTED USES AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS |
| C-2 Commercial Zone | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note *: Special use conditions and/or development standards apply (conditions in Chapter 19.31, Standards for Specific Land Uses) | § 19.09.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
R-1.
What else applies
- "Child Care Large Family" is a separate row (C* in R-1..R-3).
- 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: Manufacturing zones (M-1 and others): Table 19.11.030A is not in the packet text (S4 has only the introduction). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Commerce
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the R-2 zone in Commerce?
Only with a conditional use permit. Commerce's use table lists it that way in R-2 (Medium Density Residential Zone) (Division 1 — PERMITTED USES AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS). The code adds a condition: “Special use conditions and/or development standards apply (conditions in Chapter 19.31, Standards for Specific Land Uses)”
Can I have a child care center in the R-1 zone in Commerce?
No. Commerce's use table does not allow it in R-1 (Low Density Residential Zone) (Division 1 — PERMITTED USES AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS).
General information, not legal advice.
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