Merced · Land use · Residential care home (7 or more)
Where is a residential care home for 7 or more people allowed in Merced?
In Merced, a residential care home for 7 or more people is allowed in 1 base zone (C-C, it with a condition), needs a conditional use permit in 11 (R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and 6 more, 1 with a condition) and not allowed in 7 (Merced use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: C-C
- Needs a permit: R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, D-COR, D-O, D-CM and 3 more
- Not allowed: R-MH, C-O, C-N, C-SC, C-T, C-G and B-P
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Merced 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 residential care home for 7 or more people can go
Merced's code calls this use “Residential Care Facilities, Large (More than 6)”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C-C | Allowed — see note Code row: “Residential Care Facilities, Large (More than 6 residents)” Note 3: Allowed only for converted hotels or motels. | § 20.10.020 |
| R-R | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.08.020 |
| R-1 Low density residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.08.020 |
| R-2 Low medium density residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.08.020 |
| R-3 High medium density residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.08.020 |
| R-4 High density residential | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.08.020 |
| D-COR | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.14.020 |
| D-O | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.14.020 |
| D-CM | Needs a conditional use permit | § 20.14.020 |
| R-OV Outer village residential | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Residential Care Facilities, Large (More than 6 residents)” | § 20.16.020 |
| R-IV Inner village residential | Needs a conditional use permit Code row: “Residential Care Facilities, Large (More than 6 residents)” | § 20.16.020 |
| C-V | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Code row: “Residential Care Facilities, Large (More than 6 residents)” Note 1: Prohibited as a single use unless approved with a conditional use permit. Permitted as part of a residential mixed-use project. | § 20.16.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Small homes (6 or fewer) are P in R-R to R-MH, C-C, R-OV, R-IV; see rows 'Residential Care Facilities, Small'.
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3); this page covers larger homes.
- Not covered here: RP-D residential planned development and other planned developments (no use table in text); Commercial cannabis uses (Table 20.44-1 in 20.44.170). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Merced
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the R-R zone in Merced?
Only with a conditional use permit. Merced's use table lists it that way in R-R (§ 20.08.020).
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the R-MH zone in Merced?
No. Merced's use table does not allow it in R-MH (§ 20.08.020).
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the C-C zone in Merced?
Yes, with a condition. Merced's use table lists it as allowed in C-C (§ 20.10.020). The code adds a condition: “Allowed only for converted hotels or motels.”
General information, not legal advice.
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