Placer County · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Placer County?
In Placer County, a child care center is needs a permit in 13 (F, CPD, C2, MU, C1 and 8 more) (Placer County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: F, CPD, C2, MU, C1, OP, RES, IN and 5 more
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Placer 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
Placer County's code calls this use “Child/adult day care, centers”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| F Farm | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| CPD Commercial planned development | Needs a conditional use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| C2 General commercial | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| MU Mixed use community | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| C1 Neighborhood commercial | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| OP Office and professional | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| RES Resort | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| IN Industrial | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| INP Industrial Park | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| RA Residential-agricultural | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| RF Residential-forest | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| RM Residential multifamily | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
| RM30 Residential Multifamily 30 | Needs a minor use permit | Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land |
What else applies
- Child day care, family care homes is a separate row. BP: MUP but only as an accessory and incidental use (17.38.010(D)).
- 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: SPL specific plan areas (use rules are in each specific plan); Combining districts (17.52) can change permits; -UP requires a minor or conditional use permit for all uses in the base zone. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Placer County
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the F zone in Placer County?
Only with a minor use permit. Placer County's use table lists it that way in F (Farm) (Zone Districts and Allowable Uses of Land).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a child care center at an address in Placer County
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
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