La Quinta · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in La Quinta?
In La Quinta, a child care center is needs a minor use permit in 7 (CR, CP, CC, CN, CO and 2 more) and not allowed in 1 (La Quinta use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: CR, CP, CC, CN, CO, MC and VC
- Not allowed: CT
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the La Quinta 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
La Quinta's code calls this use “Child daycare facilities, centers and preschools as a principal use, subject to Section 9.100.240 (also see Accessory Uses)”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CR Regional Commercial | Needs a minor use permit | Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES |
| CP Commercial Park | Needs a minor use permit | Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES |
| CC Community Commercial | Needs a minor use permit | Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES |
| CN Neighborhood Commercial | Needs a minor use permit | Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES |
| CO Office Commercial | Needs a minor use permit | Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES |
| MC Major Community Facilities | Needs a minor use permit | Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES |
| VC Village Commercial | Needs a minor use permit | Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES |
Zones where it is not allowed
CT.
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 9.100.240 (child daycare standards).
- Residential districts: only accessory rows "Child day care facilities as an accessory use, serving 6 or fewer children" and "serving 7-14 children" (A in all six), which are family-day-care style home uses, not centers; left out. The accessory row "Incidental on-site products or services for employees or businesses, such as child day care" is A in all eight nonresidential districts.
- 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: Industrial districts (none in the packet); overlay districts EOD, AHO, A/ER, MU show "**" = as permitted in the underlying base district.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in La Quinta
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the CR zone in La Quinta?
Only with a minor use permit. La Quinta's use table lists it that way in CR (Regional Commercial) (Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES).
Can I have a child care center in the CT zone in La Quinta?
No. La Quinta's use table does not allow it in CT (Tourist Commercial) (Chapter 9.80 — NONRESIDENTIAL PERMITTED USES).
General information, not legal advice.
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