Gilroy · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Gilroy?
In Gilroy, a child care center is allowed in 7 base zones (C1, C3, CCA, TD, CD and 2 more) and needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) in 10 (RR, R1, R2, R3, R4 and 5 more) (Gilroy use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: C1, C3, CCA, TD, CD, GD and CI
- Needs a permit: RR, R1, R2, R3, R4, RH, PO, CM and 2 more
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Gilroy 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 child care center can go
Gilroy's code calls this use “Day Care Center”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C1 Neighborhood Commercial | Allowed | § 30.19.10 |
| C3 Shopping Center Commercial | Allowed | § 30.19.10 |
| CCA Civic/Cultural Arts District | Allowed | § 30.19.10 |
| TD Transitional District | Allowed | § 30.19.10 |
| CD Cannery District | Allowed | § 30.19.10 |
| GD Gateway District | Allowed | § 30.19.10 |
| CI Campus Industrial | Allowed | § 30.23.10 |
| RR Rural Residential District | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | Article XI — RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES |
| R1 Single-Family Residential District | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | Article XI — RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES |
| R2 Two (2) Family Residential District | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | Article XI — RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES |
| R3 Medium Density Residential District | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | Article XI — RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES |
| R4 High Density Residential District | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | Article XI — RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES |
| RH Residential Hillside District | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | Article XI — RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES |
| PO Professional Office | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | § 30.19.10 |
| CM Commercial Industrial | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | § 30.19.10 |
| DED Downtown Expansion District | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | § 30.19.10 |
| M1 Limited Industrial | Needs a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission) | § 30.23.10 |
What else applies
- Downtown row is 'Adult or Child Day Care Center'. 'Family Day Care Home' is a separate residential row (X in RR-RH). PF district: day care centers only as a conditional use on government-owned, leased property (S25).
- State law: A licensed family child care home in a house is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1597.45); this page covers child care centers only.
- Not covered here: ND (Neighborhood District): residential table shows '*', use per master/specific plan; Hecker Pass and Glen Loma Ranch special use districts: specific-plan tables not in text; OS and PF districts are lists (S24, S25), not tables. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Gilroy
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the RR zone in Gilroy?
Only with a conditional use permit (granted by planning commission). Gilroy's use table lists it that way in RR (Rural Residential District) (Article XI — RESIDENTIAL USE TABLES).
Can I have a child care center in the C1 zone in Gilroy?
Yes. Gilroy's use table lists it as allowed in C1 (Neighborhood Commercial) (§ 30.19.10).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a child care center at an address in Gilroy
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question