Modesto · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Modesto?
In Modesto, a child care center is allowed in 8 base zones (MU-P, MU-H, C-1, C-2, C-3 and 3 more) and needs a conditional use permit in 4 (R-1, R-2, R-3 and P-O) (Modesto use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: MU-P, MU-H, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-M, M-1 and M-2
- Needs a permit: R-1, R-2, R-3 and P-O
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Modesto 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
Modesto's code calls this use “Child Day 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.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| MU-P Mixed Use Pedestrian Oriented | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| MU-H Mixed Use Highway Oriented | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| C-1 Neighborhood Commercial | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| C-2 General Commercial | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| C-3 Highway Commercial | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| C-M Commercial-Industrial | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| M-1 Light Industrial | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| M-2 Heavy Industrial | Allowed | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| R-1 Low Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| R-2 Medium Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| R-3 Medium-High Density Residential | Needs a conditional use permit | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| P-O Professional Office | Needs a conditional use permit | Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: 10-3.204 Child Day Care Facilities (b).
- Day care homes (small family 6 or fewer, large family 7-14) are P in R-1 to R-3; 'Child Day Care Home (15 or more children)' is C in R-1 to R-3.
- 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: P-D Planned Development zone (uses set by each ordinance, 10-7.103); SP-H Specific Plan-Holding zone (own short use list in 10-7.402/403); Downtown Core zone (referenced in 10-3.203, no table in the text). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Modesto
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the R-1 zone in Modesto?
Only with a conditional use permit. Modesto's use table lists it that way in R-1 (Low Density Residential) (Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS).
Can I have a child care center in the MU-P zone in Modesto?
Yes. Modesto's use table lists it as allowed in MU-P (Mixed Use Pedestrian Oriented) (Chapter 3 — LAND USE REGULATIONS).
General information, not legal advice.
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