Tuolumne County, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Chapter 17.54 of the Tuolumne County Zoning Ordinance governs family day care facilities, consistent with California's preemptive treatment of family day care homes as a residential use (Health & Safety Code 1597.30 et seq.). Small family day care homes are permitted uses within permitted and conditional-use single-family residences in all districts except O, O-1, and M-2 (Section 17.54.030.A). Large family day care homes are likewise permitted in single-family residences in all districts except O, O-1, and M-2, provided the operational criteria in Section 17.54.040 are met at all times (Section 17.54.030.B). Those standards include: only one large family day care home per parcel; two off-street parking spaces for the residence plus one-half space per non-resident employee on the largest shift (rounded up), built per Chapter 17.30 (Off-Street Parking); an on-site drop-off and pick-up area designed for safe loading without blocking the driveway; a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and any other regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal for large family day care homes; and compliance with exterior noise limits (for example, 50 dB Leq daytime / 45 dB Leq nighttime in residential and similar receiving zones per Table 17.54.01). State licensing through the California Department of Social Services / Community Care Licensing is separate from County zoning.