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

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Permit type
Zoning clearance ('C'), no hearing
Review time
5 days (§ 17.06.040)
RS zone minimum lot
10,000 sq ft
RS lot with well+septic
20,000 sq ft
RA zone minimum lot
40,000 sq ft
Small family day care
6 or fewer children
Large family day care
7 to 14 children

Summary

In unincorporated Placer County, a family day care home caring for up to 14 children is a zoning-clearance ('C') use in every residential zone, not a discretionary permit. The RS district still applies its normal 10,000-square-foot minimum lot area (20,000 if the lot has both a well and an on-site septic system), and the operator must hold a state child-care license.

City-specific rules exist: Roseville has its own home daycare rules that differ from Placer County's county-level regulations. If you live in Roseville, check the city-specific page instead.

"Child day care, family care homes" (land use)means a private dwelling unit where care, protection and supervision of 14 or fewer minor children for periods of less than 24 hours is regularly provided, typically while parents are working. This land use includes "large family day care homes," which care for seven to 14 children, and "small family day care homes," which care for six or fewer children. Such facilities are required to be licensed by the California State Department of Social Services. ... Child day care, family care homes / C / 10,000(1) ... KEY TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS ... C = Zoning clearance required (17.06.050)

Full Breakdown

030 defines 'child day care, family care homes' as a private dwelling where care, protection and supervision of 14 or fewer minor children for less than 24 hours is regularly provided while parents work. The definition splits the use into 'small family day care homes' (six or fewer children) and 'large family day care homes' (seven to 14 children), both requiring a license from the California State Department of Social Services. 010(B), 'Child day care, family care homes' is listed with permit code 'C', meaning it is allowed subject to zoning clearance rather than an administrative review, minor use, or conditional use permit.

The RS table sets a 10,000-square-foot minimum lot area for the use, footnoted to 20,000 square feet where both a well and an on-site sewage disposal system serve the same lot. The Residential-Agricultural (RA) district applies the same 'C' clearance but a 40,000-square-foot minimum lot area instead. 040 requires the planning department to review and approve or disapprove a clearance request within five days of filing, and bars issuance of any building permit, business license, or other authorization for the use until clearance is granted.

56 development standards, distinct from the heavier 'A' (zoning compliance only), 'MUP' (minor use permit), and 'CUP' (conditional use permit) categories used elsewhere in the same tables.

Violations & Fines

Operating a family day care home before zoning clearance is granted is a violation of the land-use permit system in § 17.06.040: the code bars issuance of any building permit, grading permit, or business license for the use until the planning department signs off. Because clearance review takes five days and involves no hearing, the practical remedy is simply to file for it before opening; unresolved violations proceed through the county's standard zoning enforcement process for unpermitted land uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Placer County home day care need a public hearing?
No. Family day care homes for up to 14 children are a zoning-clearance ('C') use under § 17.50.010(B), reviewed administratively by planning staff within five days under § 17.06.040. No public hearing or discretionary use permit is required, unlike the minor or conditional use permits required for other commercial uses in the same zone.
What lot size does a family day care home need in the RS zone?
The RS district table at § 17.50.010(B) requires a 10,000-square-foot minimum lot for 'child day care, family care homes,' rising to 20,000 square feet if the lot relies on both a private well and an on-site septic system. The Residential-Agricultural (RA) district instead requires 40,000 square feet for the same use.
What is the difference between a small and large family day care home?
Placer County Code § 17.04.030 defines a small family day care home as caring for six or fewer children and a large family day care home as caring for seven to 14 children, both operated out of a private dwelling for less than 24 hours at a time. Both categories require the same zoning clearance and are licensed by the California State Department of Social Services.
Do I need a state license to run a home day care in Placer County?
Yes. Section 17.04.030 states that family day care homes 'are required to be licensed by the California State Department of Social Services' regardless of whether they qualify as small or large. The county's zoning clearance under § 17.50.010(B) is separate from, and in addition to, that state license.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Placer County

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