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

Section 18.29a of Ordinance 348 expressly recognizes California's preemption of local control over family day care homes. Citing the California Child Day Care Facilities Act (HSC 1597.30-1597.622), HSC 1597.40(b) (statewide concern preempting local use/occupancy laws), and HSC 1597.45(a) (use as a small or large family day care home is a residential use by right), the County provides that both small and large family day care homes are permitted uses requiring no County permit. Specifically, a small family day care home for up to seven children (including resident children under ten) is a permitted use in all zones where the dwelling type is permitted and requires no permit; a large family day care home for eight to fourteen children (including resident children under ten) is likewise a permitted use in those zones and requires no permit. Operational standards in Section 18.29a(E) defer largely to state law: the operator must obtain a valid state license under HSC 1597.54 and provide a certified copy to the Planning Director; provide off-street parking per Section 18.12; manage loading/unloading without impeding traffic; comply with applicable Fire and Building Code regulations under HSC 1597.46; meet the development standards of the underlying zone; comply with State Fire Marshal regulations; and an on-site identification sign may be installed. No second unit or guest quarter may be used as a family day care home.