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

Family day care in unincorporated Kings County follows California's preemptive scheme for licensed home day care. Small family day care homes (for 8 or fewer children) are listed as a permitted use (P) in the residential and agricultural use tables, meaning they are allowed by right - mirroring state law that treats small family day care as a residential use. Large family day care homes (for 9 to 14 children) require Site Plan Review (S) and are governed by Development Code Article 11, Section 1117 ("Large Family Day Care Homes"), with the County's tables cross-referencing Health & Safety Code Section 1597.46. Section 1117 requires that "the operator of a large Family Day Care Home shall be a full-time resident," that the operator obtain written consent of the property owner where applicable, that parking be provided per Section 1302, Table 13-1, and that the home "operate only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m." Monday through Friday. The required outdoor "play area shall not be located in any required front or side yard." The operator must also obtain any other licenses or permits required by federal, state, county, or city agencies - in practice, a state license from the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing. These provisions track state law, which limits local authority over family day care homes. Confirm Site Plan Review steps with the Kings County Community Development Agency.