Elk Grove · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Elk Grove?
In Elk Grove, a child care center is allowed in 20 base zones (AG-80, AG-20, AR-5/10, AR-2, AR-1 and 15 more), needs a conditional use permit in 3 (C-O, LI and LI/FX) and not allowed in 2 (Elk Grove use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: AG-80, AG-20, AR-5/10, AR-2, AR-1, RD-1/2/3, RD-4/5/6, RD-7 and 12 more
- Needs a permit: C-O, LI and LI/FX
- Not allowed: AC and HI
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Elk Grove 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
Elk Grove's code calls this use “Child Care Facility, 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.
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Child Care Facility, Family Day Care Home is a separate row (14 or fewer children in the provider home).
- 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: Specific Plan (SP) and Special Planning Area (SPA) districts: uses set by each plan; RM-1 mobile home subdivision district (own table, § 23.40.030); Overlay and combining districts (MF, F, MHP, RUC, SM, BCS, EF, EEG, CR-99). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Elk Grove
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the C-O zone in Elk Grove?
Only with a conditional use permit. Elk Grove's use table lists it that way in C-O (Commercial Recreation) (Division III — ZONING DISTRICTS, ALLOWABLE USES, AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS).
Can I have a child care center in the AC zone in Elk Grove?
No. Elk Grove's use table does not allow it in AC (Auto Commercial) (Division III — ZONING DISTRICTS, ALLOWABLE USES, AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS).
Can I have a child care center in the AG-80 zone in Elk Grove?
Yes. Elk Grove's use table lists it as allowed in AG-80 (Agricultural (80-acre minimum)) (Division III — ZONING DISTRICTS, ALLOWABLE USES, AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS).
General information, not legal advice.
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