Thousand Oaks · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Thousand Oaks?
In Thousand Oaks, a child care center is needs a permit in 18 (R-A, R-E, R-O, R-1, R-2 and 13 more) and not allowed in 4 (Thousand Oaks use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-A, R-E, R-O, R-1, R-2, R-3, RPD, RPD-SFD and 10 more
- Not allowed: HPD, HPD-SFD, C-2/AM and O-S
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Thousand Oaks 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
Thousand Oaks's code calls this use “Day nurseries (child 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 |
|---|---|---|
| R-A Rural-Agricultural | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| R-E Rural-Exclusive | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| R-O Single-Family Estate | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| R-1 | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| R-2 Two-Family Residential | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| R-3 Multiple-Family Residential | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| RPD Residential Planned Development | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| RPD-SFD Residential Planned Development, single-family detached only (R-P-D-SFD) | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| TPD Trailer Park Development (mobile home park) | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| C-O Commercial Office | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| C-1 Neighborhood Shopping Center | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| C-2 Highway and Arterial Business | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| C-3 Community Shopping Center | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| C-4 Regional Shopping Center | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| M-1 Industrial Park | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| M-2 Light Manufacturing | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| P-L Public, Quasi-Public, and Institutional Lands and Facilities | Needs a special use permit (administrative) | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
| MU Mixed-Use | Needs a development permit | Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone |
Zones where it is not allowed
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: R-1 zone chapter (single-family residential) and the R-P-D-SFD / H-P-D-SFD chapters are not in the packet except through the matrices; Specific plan areas (Sec. 9-4.2102) govern their own uses. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Thousand Oaks
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the R-A zone in Thousand Oaks?
Only with a special use permit (administrative). Thousand Oaks's use table lists it that way in R-A (Rural-Agricultural) (Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone).
Can I have a child care center in the HPD zone in Thousand Oaks?
No. Thousand Oaks's use table does not allow it in HPD (Hillside Planned Development) (Article 21 — Uses Allowed by Zone).
General information, not legal advice.
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