Palm Desert, CA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Section 25.16.030 and its Table 25.16-1 decide where a day care center can locate in the City of Palm Desert's commercial and industrial districts. The legend reads P for permitted, A for administrative use permit, C for conditional use permit and N for not permitted. The Day care center row prints N, A, A, A, A, N under OP, PC-1, PC-2, PC-3, PC-4 and SI. That means no day care center in Office Professional or Service Industrial, and an administrative use permit in each of the four Planned Commercial districts. The section adds that uses not listed are not permitted, although the Commission can make a use determination under § 25.72.020.

Section 25.99.020 defines a day care center as a commercial or nonprofit child or adult day care facility not operated as a small or large family day care home. It includes infant centers, preschools, extended day care facilities, and facilities for adults who require supervision and care. All day care facilities are required to be licensed by the State Department of Social Services. The residential use matrix, Table 25.10-1, lists only large and small family day care, so a center has no row there.

The administrative use permit is decided by the Zoning Administrator under § 25.64.040, who can refer it to the Commission. Public notice follows § 25.60.060.C. The Zoning Administrator has to find that the use is allowed in the district and complies with the zoning code and General Plan, that the site is physically suited including access and utilities, and that the permit would not be detrimental to public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare. Missing any finding means denial, and reasonable conditions are allowed.

Building safety follows through § 25.60.150: a use certificate is required before any building permit is issued, and the building official shall not issue a building permit until the Zoning Administrator has approved it. Chapter 3.45 sets a separate fee: the amount is set in a City Council resolution, it is paid before the building permit issues, and development of a child care facility is exempt (§ 3.45.060).