Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 5 Child Care Facilities

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 10.2026, § 4, adopted June 9, 2026, amended the title of Div. 5 to read as herein set out. The former Div. 5 title pertained to child day-care facilities.

This Section establishes standards for city review of child-care facilities, in conformance with state law, including the limitations on the city's authority to regulate these facilities. These standards apply in addition to all other applicable provisions of this Chapter and any requirements imposed by the California Department of Social Services through its facility licensing procedures. Licensing by the Department of Social Services is required for all child-care facilities.

a. Small- and large-family child-care homes. Considered a residential use of property and permitted within any dwelling unit. Subject to identical development standards applicable to residential uses within the property's district.

b. Child-care centers not co-located with multiple-family residential development. Allowed in the zoning districts determined by Sections 36.10.05 (Residential zones), 36.18.05 (Commercial zones), 36.20.05 (Industrial zones), 36.22, 36.24, 36.24.35, 36.26 and 36.26.35 (Special purpose zones), subject to conditional use permit approval (Section 36.48), and the following:

1. Spacing/concentration. No residential property shall be bordered on more than one (1) side by a child-care facility.

2. Traffic control. A drop-off and pick-up area shall be established to ensure that children are not placed at risk and street traffic is not unduly interrupted. The driveway of a large family day-care home may serve as its drop-off area. Adequate drop-off and pick-up areas shall be provided so that traffic does not back up onto public roadways or does not create circulation problems in parking lots.

3. Adjacent uses. The proposed site shall not be located adjacent to a business that uses, sells or stores significant amounts of hazardous materials or creates high noise levels or fumes.

4. Outdoor play areas. Outdoor play areas shall be set back from adjoining residential dwellings and enclosed with a minimum six (6) foot fence. A six (6) foot wood or masonry fence is required along the boundaries with residential uses.

5. Development review approval. Development review approval shall be required as provided in city code Section 36.44.45.

c. Child-care centers co-located with multiple-family residential development. Notwithstanding any provision of the city code to the contrary, any child-care facility co-located with multiple-family housing shall be considered a residential use of property and be subject to identical development standards applied to the multiple-family housing.

(Ord. No. 18.13, § 1, 12/10/13; Ord. No. 16.19, § 5, 10/22/19; Ord. No. 7.20, § 4, 6/23/20; Ord. No. 3.2026, § 14, 3/10/26; Ord. No. 10.2026, § 4, 6/9/26.)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 10.2026, § 4, adopted June 9, 2026, amended the title of § 36.28.20 to read as herein set out. The former § 36.28.20 title pertained to child day-care facilities.