Where is a child care center allowed in Pleasant Hill?

Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Pleasant Hill 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

Pleasant Hill's code calls this use “Day care, general”. 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
R-20	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
R-15	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
R-10	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
R-10A	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
R-7	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
R-6	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
RMD RMD (site-wide master plan applies)	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet. Note *: Only applicable to projects as determined in Section 18.15.020E (Applicability of Land Use Regulations in RMD Zoning District).	§ 18.15.020
MFVL	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
MFL	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
MFM	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
MFH	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
MFVH	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.	§ 18.15.020
MX-NB	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Permitted as an accessory use if limited to the ground floor, as specified in Section 18.25.050 .	§ 18.20.020
MX	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Permitted as an accessory use if limited to the ground floor, as specified in Section 18.25.050 .	§ 18.20.020
MX-HD	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Permitted as an accessory use if limited to the ground floor, as specified in Section 18.25.050 .	§ 18.20.020
MX-VHD	Needs an use permit — see note Note L-1: Permitted as an accessory use if limited to the ground floor, as specified in Section 18.25.050 .	§ 18.20.020
RB	Needs an use permit	§ 18.25.020
PAO	Needs an use permit	§ 18.25.020
HPUD	Needs an use permit	§ 18.35.030

Zones where it is not allowed

NB, C, LI.

What else applies

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 (Chapter 18.05 zoning district list is not included); PUD / PPD districts: uses come from an approved PUD or specific plan (S4), no table; Chapter 18.210 land use definitions not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.

Other uses in Pleasant Hill

Who this affects

HomeownersBuyersReal estate agentsSmall developers

Frequently asked questions

Can I have a child care center in the R-20 zone in Pleasant Hill?

Only with an use permit. Pleasant Hill's use table lists it that way in R-20 (§ 18.15.020). The code adds a condition: “Minimum site area of 10,000 square feet.”

Can I have a child care center in the NB zone in Pleasant Hill?

No. Pleasant Hill's use table does not allow it in NB (§ 18.25.020).

General information, not legal advice.