El Cerrito · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in El Cerrito?
In El Cerrito, a child care center is needs a permit in 8 (RS, RD, RM, CN, CC and 3 more) and not allowed in 1 (El Cerrito use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RS, RD, RM, CN, CC, TOM, PS and PR
- Not allowed: OS-N
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the El Cerrito 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
El Cerrito's code calls this use “Day Care Center / 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RS | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Day Care Center” | § 19.06.020 |
| RD | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Day Care Center” | § 19.06.020 |
| RM | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Day Care Center” | § 19.06.020 |
| CN | Needs an administrative use permit Code row: “Day Care Center” | § 19.07.020 |
| CC | Needs an administrative use permit Code row: “Day Care Center” | § 19.07.020 |
| TOM | Needs an administrative use permit Code row: “Day Care Center” | § 19.07.020 |
| PS Public and Semipublic District | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Day Care Centers” | § 19.08.020 |
| PR | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Day Care Centers” | § 19.09.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
OS-N.
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 19.20.060 (not in packet).
- 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: San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan uses (SPASPD). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in El Cerrito
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the RS zone in El Cerrito?
Only with a conditional use permit. El Cerrito's use table lists it that way in RS (§ 19.06.020).
Can I have a child care center in the OS-N zone in El Cerrito?
No. El Cerrito's use table does not allow it in OS-N (§ 19.09.030).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a child care center at an address in El Cerrito
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