San Rafael, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Small day care (≤8 children)
- Permitted by right
- Large day care (9-14 children)
- Administrative permit only
- Day care center (15+)
- Conditional use permit
- Large day care parking
- Minimum 2 spaces
Summary
San Rafael allows a small family day care home caring for up to 8 children by right in every residential zone; caring for 9 to 14 children needs only an administrative permit, no public hearing.
Family day care home Small (0-8 children or adults) P P P P P Large (9-14 children) A A A A A See standards, Chapter 14.17 Large (9-14 adults) C C C C C
Day care center (15 or more children or adults) C* C C C C* *Prohibited in R2a, R1a and PD districts, and R20 hillside residential lots.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
Table 14.04.020 lists 'family day care home' as a permitted (P) use in the R, DR, MR, HR and PD districts when serving 8 or fewer children or adults, with no discretionary review. A large family day care home serving 9-14 children needs only an administrative use permit under Chapter 14.17 standards; the same size serving 9-14 adults needs a conditional use permit. A day care center (15 or more) needs a conditional use permit and is barred outright in the R2a, R1a and PD-hillside districts and on R20 hillside lots. Definitions are at SRMC § 14.03.030.
Violations & Fines
Operating a large family day care home without the required administrative permit, or a day care center without a conditional use permit, is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement and permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a home daycare in San Rafael without a permit?
What if I want to care for more than 8 children?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
California rules heatmap·Compare San Rafael to another location·View the California home business overview
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