Santa Barbara County, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Family day care homes in unincorporated Santa Barbara County are regulated under Land Use & Development Code Section 35.42.090 (Community Care Facilities), which mirrors California's preemptive treatment of family day care as a residential use. Small family day care homes are considered a residential use and are allowed in compliance with the zoning code if the provider has obtained a license, or a statement of exemption from licensing, from the California Department of Social Services. Large family day care homes are also considered a residential use, allowed subject to standards: the provider must have a state license or statement of exemption; the property must be located more than 300 feet from another large family day care facility, and approval must not result in over-concentration; review is a ministerial action generally exempt from CEQA (except certain Coastal Zone appeal areas); and notice of the permit approval is mailed to property owners within a 300-foot radius. Because state law (Health & Safety Code 1597.40 et seq.) classifies family day care homes as residential occupancies, the County cannot impose nonresidential business-license or use-permit barriers that treat these homes differently from other dwellings, beyond the limited standards in Section 35.42.090. The state Department of Social Services licenses small homes (up to 8 children) and large homes (up to 14 children).