Davis · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Davis?
In Davis, a child care center is needs a conditional use permit in 9 (R-1, R-2, R-2-CD, R-R, R-2-MH and 4 more) (Davis use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-1, R-2, R-2-CD, R-R, R-2-MH, R-3, R-HD, M-U and 1 more
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Davis 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
Davis's code calls this use “Nursery schools and 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 Residential One-Family | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.03.040 |
| R-2 Residential One- and Two-Family | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.04.040 |
| R-2-CD Residential One- and Two-Family Conservation | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.04A.040 |
| R-R Residential Restricted | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.06.040 |
| R-2-MH Residential One- and Two-Family and Mobile Home | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.07.040 |
| R-3 Residential Garden Apartment | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.08.040 |
| R-HD Residential High Density Apartment | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.09.040 |
| M-U Mixed Use | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.15.050 |
| C-S Commercial Service | Needs a conditional use permit | § 40.17.040 |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 40.26.270 Day care (section not in packet).
- Downtown: 'Day Care/Preschool: Small House <7 persons' P, 'Large House 7 to 12 persons' AUP (home-based, not used). C-N combining district lists 'nursery schools, daycare centers' as conditional in a shared row (not a base zone). P-D conditional too (plan-specific, not used).
- 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: Downtown zone names (N-M, N-L, MS-M, MS-L) are not spelled out in the packet; Sections 40.26.135, 40.26.160, 40.26.270, 40.26.255 and the definitions in 40.01.010 (group care home, day care center) are not in the packet; R-3-L / R-3-M sub-districts named in S10/S23 have no table of their own in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Davis
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the R-1 zone in Davis?
Only with a conditional use permit. Davis's use table lists it that way in R-1 (Residential One-Family) (§ 40.03.040).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a child care center at an address in Davis
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
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