Redwood City, CA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

3 splits Child Care Centers, defined as facilities serving children under 18 on a non-medical, less-than-24-hour basis, into three zoning tracks. In the RH, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 residential districts a center needs a Use Permit, unless it operates in conjunction with a public or quasi-public use, in which case it is allowed by right. In nonresidential districts other than Mixed-Use, a center run in conjunction with an adjoining business is an accessory use permitted by right based on square footage rather than headcount; a stand-alone center not tied to a business is permitted by right up to 60 children, and needs a Use Permit above 60.

In Mixed-Use districts, centers are permitted by right outright. Every Child Care Center, regardless of district, must hold a current license from the California Department of Social Services and obtain a city business license, is subject to the parking standards in Article 30, cannot let cars block neighboring driveways or commercial parking spaces, must keep any permanently installed playground apparatus within the accessory-structure setback for that residential district with no play equipment allowed in the front yard, and in residential districts is capped at the signage area allowed for multifamily residential properties.