Alhambra, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitted use
- All zoning districts allowing residential use
- Large day care spacing
- 200 feet from another large day care
- Waiver
- Planning Commission can approve closer siting
- Parking
- No added parking required
- Adopted
- Ord. 4823, passed 1-22-24
Summary
California law makes family day cares a permitted residential use in every zoning district that allows housing, and Alhambra's code follows suit. The only added local rule is spacing: large family day cares must sit at least 200 feet from another large day care unless the Planning Commission approves closer siting.
§ 23.22.140 FAMILY DAY CARE. Family day cares shall be located, developed, and operated in compliance with state law and the following.
(A) Permitted use. Small and large family day cares are permitted in all zoning districts where residential uses are allowed and are considered residential uses of a property.
(B) Location, large family day care. Large family day cares are limited to lots located a minimum of 200 feet from any other lot with a large family day care use unless approved by the Planning Commission.
(C) Parking. Existing parking for the residential use must be maintained. No additional parking is required for the family day care use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 4851, passed 10-27-25).
Full Breakdown
140 states that small and large family day cares are permitted in all zoning districts where residential uses are allowed and are considered residential uses of a property, tracking the state Family Day Care Homes Act's bar on treating a family day care differently than a single-family home. Beyond that baseline, the city imposes one numeric limit: large family day cares are limited to lots located a minimum of 200 feet from any other lot with a large family day care use, unless the Planning Commission approves a closer siting.
Parking gets addressed too: existing residential parking must be maintained, and subsection (C) states no additional parking is required for the family day care use, so a home operator does not need to add driveway or garage spaces to qualify. 140. 22 by Ordinance 4823, passed January 22, 2024. Because state law sets the floor for how far cities may regulate family day cares, Alhambra's 200-foot spacing rule for large day cares is essentially the only discretionary local layer; small family day cares face no city-added siting or permit condition beyond the ministerial recognition that they are a residential use.
Violations & Fines
Operating a large family day care within 200 feet of another without Planning Commission approval is a zoning code violation, enforced the same way as any other Title 23 violation. Under Section 1.12.010 the city can pursue a fine set by council resolution or up to six months' imprisonment, with each day counted separately, or issue a Chapter 1.13 administrative citation carrying a 30-day payment window before 10% monthly late penalties and interest begin accruing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alhambra require a special permit to run a home day care?
How close can two large family day cares be to each other?
Do I need extra parking to run a family day care from my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alhambra
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How other cities in Los Angeles County handle home daycare.