Imperial Beach · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Imperial Beach?
In Imperial Beach, a child care center is allowed in 3 base zones (C/MU-1, C/MU-2 and C/MU-3) and needs a conditional use permit in 6 (R-1-6000, R-1-3800, R-3000-D, R-3000, R-2000 and 1 more) (Imperial Beach use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: C/MU-1, C/MU-2 and C/MU-3
- Needs a permit: R-1-6000, R-1-3800, R-3000-D, R-3000, R-2000 and R-1500
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Imperial Beach 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
Imperial Beach's code calls this use “Child 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C/MU-1 General Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone | Allowed | Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS |
| C/MU-2 Seacoast Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone | Allowed | Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS |
| C/MU-3 Neighborhood Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone | Allowed | Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS |
| R-1-6000 Single-Family Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.12.020 |
| R-1-3800 Single-Family Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.13.020 |
| R-3000-D Two-Family Detached Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.14.020 |
| R-3000 Two-Family Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.15.020 |
| R-2000 Medium Density Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.16.020 |
| R-1500 High Density Residential Zone | Needs a conditional use permit | § 19.17.020 |
What else applies
- Residential zone lists use the name 'Day care centers' (R-1-3800: 'Day care center'). Family day care facilities (Chapter 19.64) are separate.
- 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: Residential-zone cells come from prose use lists, not tables: a use not named in a list gets no cell (the 'unlisted = prohibited' rule is stated only for the C/MU table); PF, OS, UR zone lists do not name most of the 16 uses; Seacoast overlay zones. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Imperial Beach
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the R-1-6000 zone in Imperial Beach?
Only with a conditional use permit. Imperial Beach's use table lists it that way in R-1-6000 (Single-Family Residential Zone) (§ 19.12.020).
Can I have a child care center in the C/MU-1 zone in Imperial Beach?
Yes. Imperial Beach's use table lists it as allowed in C/MU-1 (General Commercial and Mixed-Use Zone) (Chapter 19.23 — COMMERCIAL/MIXED-USE USE REGULATIONS).
General information, not legal advice.
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