Riverside County, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Small home limit
- up to 7 children
- Large home limit
- 8 to 14 children
- Zoning permit required
- none
- State license required
- yes, before opening
- Second units/guest quarters
- never allowed
Summary
Small (up to 7 kids) and large (8-14 kids) family day care homes are a permitted residential use by right in every zone in unincorporated Riverside County, with no zoning permit required.
In accordance with the above-referenced state policies, the use of a lawfully occupied detached one-family dwelling, a townhouse, a dwelling unit within a dwelling, or a dwelling unit within a covered multiple family dwelling as a small-family day care home for up to seven children, including children under ten (10) years of age who reside at the home, shall be a permitted use in all zones where such dwelling unit types are permitted, and shall not require any permit pursuant to this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Riverside County Code Chapter 17.212 codifies the state's Child Day Care Facilities Act preemption: family day care homes are treated as a residential use by right, not a special land use. Small homes (up to 7 children) and large homes (8-14 children) are permitted in any zone that allows the underlying dwelling type, with no plot plan or use permit needed. Operators still need a state license, off-street parking per Chapter 17.188, and compliance with fire/building code standards, and may not run the operation out of a second unit or guest quarter.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with any Chapter 17.212 requirement forces the home to suspend operations until it corrects the violation, per Health and Safety Code Section 1597.58; a second unit or guest quarter used as a day care home is not permitted at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county permit to run a home daycare in unincorporated Riverside County?
Can I run a family day care out of a guest house or ADU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California home business overview
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