Lakewood, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed
- None; permitted accessory use by right
- Zones allowed
- R-1, R-A, M-F-R, M-H-P
- Governing definition
- Lakewood MC § 9302.14f
- State law controls size/licensing
- Health & Safety Code § 1596.70 et seq.
- Licensing agency
- CA Dept. of Social Services
Summary
Lakewood treats a licensed family day care home as a by-right accessory use of a house, not a business needing a conditional use permit: Municipal Code Section 9302.14f defines it and Section 9320(A)(7) lists it as a permitted accessory use in the R-1 zone, alongside the R-A, M-F-R, and M-H-P zones, deferring to the state's own size and licensing rules.
FAMILY DAY CARE HOME Shall mean and be limited to the providing by the resident and occupier of any residence in the R-1, R-A, M-F-R and M-H-P Zones, non-medical day care for children under the age of 18 for periods of less than 24 hours per day in normal residential surroundings and in the same home environment as provided in a traditional home setting. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, in the event of a conflict with the definitions set forth in the Child Day Care Facilities Act (Health & Safety Code Section 1596.70 et seq.), the definitions of a "Child Day Care Facility," "Family Day Care Home," "Small Family Day Care Home," and "Large Family Day Care Home," in that Act shall prevail. ... § 9320. Uses Permitted. A. One or two single-family dwelling units of a permanent character placed in permanent locations, including the following accessory uses and buildings: ... 7. Family Day Care Homes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4901715; v5 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
14f defines a Family Day Care Home as non-medical day care for children under eighteen, provided by the resident of a house in normal residential surroundings, for stretches of less than twenty-four hours. ), the state's definitions of 'Child Day Care Facility,' 'Family Day Care Home,' 'Small Family Day Care Home,' and 'Large Family Day Care Home' control. That deference matters because state law already caps a small home at eight children and a large home at fourteen, requires state licensing through the Department of Social Services, and forbids cities from treating a small family day care home as anything other than a permitted use of a single-family residence.
Lakewood's own zoning code carries out that mandate: Section 9320(A)(7) lists Family Day Care Homes among the permitted accessory uses of an R-1 single-family lot, right alongside home greenhouses and hobby shops, with no conditional use permit or public hearing required. 1, and the Multiple-Family Residential zone under Section 9331(F), so a family day care home is allowed by right in every residential zone Lakewood has. A large family day care home still has to meet the state's own spacing, fire, and staffing standards administered by the county licensing agency, not a separate Lakewood permit.
Violations & Fines
Because a licensed family day care home is a permitted accessory use, operating one within the state's size limits is not a Lakewood code violation. Running an unlicensed operation or exceeding state licensing capacity is enforced by the California Department of Social Services and, for zoning issues like exceeding the residential character of the use, by Lakewood Community Development under the general Section 1200 penalty, a misdemeanor fine and up to six months in jail per continuing violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home daycare in Lakewood?
How many kids can I care for at my Lakewood home?
Can Lakewood require a conditional use permit for a family day care home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the California home business overview
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Home Daycare in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle home daycare.