Home Daycare: Camarillo vs Ventura
How do home daycare rules compare between Camarillo, CA and Ventura, CA?
Camarillo and Ventura have similar restriction levels.
Camarillo, CA
Ventura County
California state law (Health & Safety Code §§1597.40–1597.46) preempts most local restrictions on small (up to 8 children) and large (up to 14 children) family child-care homes, treating them as a residential use by right. Camarillo accommodates these under CMC Title 19; operators must hold a State Community Care Licensing license and a City business tax certificate.
View full Camarillo rules →Ventura, CA
Ventura County
California Health & Safety Code §1597.40 et seq. (Family Day Care Homes Act) preempts local zoning. Small (up to 8 children) and large (up to 14 children) family daycare homes must be considered a residential use of property and a use by right in any single-family residential zone. Ventura cannot require a conditional use permit, business-zoning approval, or special license for a state-licensed family daycare home, nor charge fees not charged on comparable residential uses. The operator must hold a Community Care Licensing Division license from the California Department of Social Services. A Ventura business tax certificate is still required because it applies uniformly to all residential income-generating activity.
View full Ventura rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Camarillo | Ventura |
|---|---|---|
| Small Family Daycare | Up to 8 children, by right | - |
| Large Family Daycare | 9–14 children, ministerial review | - |
| State License | Required (CDSS CCLD) | - |
| City Business Tax | Required | - |
| Governing law | - | Cal. HSC §§1597.40–1597.621 |
| Small family daycare | - | Up to 8 children — residential use by right |
| Large family daycare | - | Up to 14 children — residential use by right |
| City conditional use permit | - | Prohibited by state preemption |
| State license | - | Required (DSS Community Care Licensing) |
| City business tax certificate | - | Still required (general tax of uniform application) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Camarillo FAQ
Can I run a daycare from my Camarillo home?
Yes — California state law permits small family daycare homes (up to 8 children) by right in any residential zone and requires Camarillo to allow large family daycare (9–14 children) with at most ministerial review. You will still need a state license and a City business tax certificate.
Ventura FAQ
Can Ventura require me to get a special-use permit to run a daycare from my home?
No. HSC §1597.45 and §1597.465 treat licensed family daycare homes as residential by right. The city cannot require a conditional use permit or special zoning approval.
Do the Home Occupation Standards (500 sq ft, 1 employee, no traffic) apply to my licensed family daycare?
No. Applying those caps would violate state preemption. Standard residential building, fire, and health code compliance still applies.
How do I get licensed?
Apply through the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division. Ventura County has a local Resource & Referral agency that assists with the application.
Do I still need a Ventura business tax certificate?
Yes. The business tax certificate is a generally-applicable tax — not a zoning approval — and applies to all income-generating activity in the city.
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