Perris, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Family daycare in Perris is controlled primarily by California state law, which preempts local zoning. Under the Child Day Care Facilities Act (Health and Safety Code 1597.40-1597.46), as amended by SB 234 (the Keeping Kids Close to Home Act, effective 2020), both small family child care homes (up to 8 children) and large family child care homes (up to 14 children) are considered a residential use of property and a use by right. Cities and counties may not require a conditional use permit, zoning clearance, variance, or other discretionary zoning approval to operate a family child care home in a residential zone, and may not treat it differently from a single-family residence for zoning, fees, or business-license purposes beyond what applies to other homes. Perris must follow this: a family daycare home is permitted by right in its residential zones. Note that the City's older business-license materials still list 'large family daycare centers' among activities needing a special permit - that reflects the pre-SB 234 framework that allowed a use permit for large homes, and it is now superseded by state law for true family child care homes. Operators still need a state license from the California Department of Social Services (Community Care Licensing) and a City business license, and large homes must meet state fire and life-safety standards under HSC 1597.46. Daycare is otherwise distinct from the general home occupation rules in 19.02.140.