Whittier, CA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning treatment
- Permitted accessory use, no separate city permit
- Licensing requirement
- Must be licensed by the State of California
- Children covered
- Under age 18, care under 24 hours a day
- Operator requirement
- Must be a resident of the dwelling providing care
Summary
Whittier permits licensed family day care homes, defined as a state-licensed residence where the resident cares for children under 18 for less than 24 hours a day, in every zone where state law requires it, without a separate city zoning or use permit, per WMC § 18.10.020(K) and § 18.06.060.
K.Family Day Care Facilities. Family day care facilities shall be permitted in all zones where required by and in accordance with state law and shall be licensed as required by law and shall be operated according to all applicable state and local regulations. [...] "Family day care home" means a day care facility licensed by the state of California, located in a residential unit where the resident of the dwelling provides care and supervision for children under the age of 18 for periods of less than 24 hours a day.
Full Breakdown
" That treats a licensed family day care home as a permitted accessory residential use rather than a conditional or discretionary one. " The definition traces back through Ord. 2864 (2005) and Ord. 2573 (1992). 020(K) folds state law directly into the local code, the city's own zoning ordinance adds no separate spacing, permit, or hearing requirement beyond what the operator's state day care license and state law already impose.
Violations & Fines
Whittier's zoning code creates no separate use-permit process for a licensed family day care home: §18.10.020(K) requires only that the operator hold the state license and follow all applicable state and local regulations. A home operating without the required state license, or outside what that license authorizes, is addressed through the state day care licensing process rather than through a city zoning enforcement or use-permit revocation action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a zoning permit to run a home daycare in Whittier?
What counts as a "family day care home" under Whittier's code?
Does the city still require anything of a home daycare operator?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whittier
California rules heatmap·Compare Whittier 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.