El Cerrito · Land use · Residential care home (7 or more)
Where is a residential care home for 7 or more people allowed in El Cerrito?
In El Cerrito, a residential care home for 7 or more people is needs a conditional use permit in 6 (RS, RD, RM, CN, CC and 1 more) (El Cerrito use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RS, RD, RM, CN, CC and TOM
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the El Cerrito Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a residential care home for 7 or more people can go
El Cerrito's code calls this use “Residential Care, General”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| RS | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.06.020 |
| RD | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.06.020 |
| RM | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.06.020 |
| CN | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.07.020 |
| CC | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.07.020 |
| TOM | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.07.020 |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Sections 19.20.180 and 19.46.040(N) (not in packet).
- 'Residential Care, Limited' is P in RS, RD, RM and C in CN, CC, TOM (the small-home row). The 6-or-fewer / 7-or-more split is defined in § 19.46.040(N), not in the packet.
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3); this page covers larger homes.
- Not covered here: San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan uses (SPASPD). Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in El Cerrito
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the RS zone in El Cerrito?
Only with a conditional use permit. El Cerrito's use table lists it that way in RS (§ 19.06.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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