Simi Valley, CA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Zones allowing CUP
- RM, RMod, RH only
- Zones where prohibited
- OS, RE, RVL, RL, RVH, MH
- Family day care home
- Permitted use, no CUP needed
- Governing table
- SVMC Table 2-2, § 9-24.030
- Review body
- Director or Planning Commission
- Each day of violation
- Separate offense, § 9-78.050(A)
Summary
A child day care center, as opposed to a small family day care home, needs a Conditional Use Permit in Simi Valley's RM, RMod, and RH residential zones under Table 2-2 of the Development Code, and isn't allowed at all in OS, RE, RVL, RL, RVH, or MH zones. The CUP goes through a public hearing before the Director or Planning Commission.
A.Table 2-2 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Development Code in the residential and open space zoning districts, and the land use permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Chapter 9-22 (Land Use Permit Requirements)... Family day care home P P P P P P P P — 9-24.060(A)(2) Child day care center — — — — CUP CUP CUP — —
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
030(A) of the Residential and Open Space Zoning Districts chapter, sets permit requirements by district for every land use allowed in residential zones. It lists 'Child day care center' separately from 'Family day care home': a family day care home is a permitted (P) use in the OS, RE, RVL, RL, RM, RMod, RH, and RVH districts, but a child day care center requires a Conditional Use Permit only in the RM, RMod, and RH districts and is not an allowed use at all in OS, RE, RVL, RL, RVH, or MH.
070. That process requires a complete application under Chapter 9-50, a staff report, and a public hearing noticed under Chapter 9-74 before the Director (for administrative CUPs) or the Planning Commission, which may approve, conditionally approve, or deny the center only after making five findings, including that the use is consistent with the General Plan and that its location, size, and operating characteristics are compatible with surrounding land uses. A CUP decision can be appealed to the Planning Commission or City Council under Chapter 9-76.
Violations & Fines
Operating a child day care center in a residential zone without an approved CUP is a Development Code violation under Section 9-78.020's general prohibition on using land for a purpose not specifically allowed by the zone. Section 9-78.040 makes that a misdemeanor or infraction under Chapter 2 of Title 1, with each day of continued operation treated as a separate offense, and the property can also be declared a public nuisance and summarily abated under Section 9-78.040(A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a child day care center from my Simi Valley home?
Can I open a child day care center in an RE or RVL zone in Simi Valley?
What does the CUP process for a day care center involve?
What happens if a center operates without the CUP?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Simi Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Simi Valley to another location·View the California building safety overview
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Childcare Center Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle childcare center rules.