Orange County · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Orange County?
In Orange County, a child care center is needs a permit in 11 (AR, E1, RHE, E4, RE and 6 more, all with a condition) and not allowed in 2 (Orange County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: AR, E1, RHE, E4, RE, R1, RS, R2 and 3 more
- Not allowed: C2 and CN
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Orange County 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
Orange County's code calls this use “Child Care Center/Early Education Facility”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| AR | Needs a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5) — see note Note 5: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-31.2 |
| E1 | Needs a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5) — see note Note 5: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-31.2 |
| RHE | Needs a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5) — see note Note 5: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-31.2 |
| E4 | Needs a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5) — see note Note 5: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-31.2 |
| RE | Needs a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5) — see note Note 5: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-31.2 |
| R1 | Needs a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5) — see note Note 5: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-31.2 |
| RS | Needs a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5) — see note Note 5: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-31.2 |
| R2 | Needs an use permit — see note Note 6: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons may be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-32.2 |
| R3 | Needs an use permit — see note Note 6: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons may be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-32.2 |
| R4 | Needs an use permit — see note Note 6: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons may be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-32.2 |
| C1 | Needs a site development permit — see note Note 2: Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons may be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission. | § 7-9-33.2 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Sec. 7-9-95 Child care facilities (named in the table).
- In-home Family Child Care, Large (14 children) and Small (8) are home uses, separate rows.
- 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: Zone names are not stated in the packet (only the group titles: Agriculture and Open Space, Single-Family Residential, Multifamily Residential, Commercial, Employment); Single-family district table (S3) is missing the Single-Family Dwelling, Duplex, Supportive/Transitional Housing and Short-Term Rentals rows in the stored text; SG (sand and gravel), the mixed-use district (7-9-36) and the FP-1/FP-2/FP-3 flood plain overlays (S7-S13) have no use table in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Orange County
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the AR zone in Orange County?
Only with a permitted up to 14 persons; use permit for more than 14 persons (note 5). Orange County's use table lists it that way in AR (§ 7-9-31.2). The code adds a condition: “Facilities serving more than fourteen (14) persons shall be permitted, subject to approval of a Use Permit by the Planning Commission.”
Can I have a child care center in the C2 zone in Orange County?
No. Orange County's use table does not allow it in C2 (§ 7-9-33.2).
General information, not legal advice.
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