Irvine · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Irvine?
In Irvine, a child care center is allowed in 1 base zone (4.9), needs a conditional use permit in 20 (1.9, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 15 more, 5 with a condition) and not allowed in 6 (Irvine use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: 4.9
- Needs a permit: 1.9, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 4.1 and 12 more
- Not allowed: 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 and 9.1
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Irvine 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
Irvine's code calls this use “Child 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4.9 Lower Peters Cyn. Regional Commercial | Allowed | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 1.9 Great Park | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 2.1 Estate Density Residential (0 — 1) | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 2.2 Low-Density Residential (0 — 6.5) | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 2.3 Medium-Density Residential (0 — 12.5) | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 2.4 Medium-High-Density Residential (0 — 31) | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 2.5 High-Density Residential (0 — 50) | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 3.1 Multi-Use | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 4.1 Neighborhood Commercial | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 4.2 Community Commercial | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 5: Uses in 4.2C ("Old Town Irvine"), subject to provisions of the Historic Overlay District. See Chapter 5-5. | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 4.3 Vehicle Related Commercial | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 4.4 Commercial Recreation | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 5.0 IBC Mixed Use | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 5.1 IBC Multi-Use | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 29: Office trip generation rates apply to this use. Consult Section 9-36-8.B.3 (IBC General Land Uses) for more information. | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 5.2 IBC Industrial | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 29: Office trip generation rates apply to this use. Consult Section 9-36-8.B.3 (IBC General Land Uses) for more information. | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 5.3 IBC Residential | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 29: Office trip generation rates apply to this use. Consult Section 9-36-8.B.3 (IBC General Land Uses) for more information. | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 5.4 General Industrial | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 5.5 Medical and Science | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 69: Prohibited in 5.5E and 5.5F. | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 5.6 Business Park | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 6.1 Institutional | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
| 8.1 Trails and Transit Oriented Development | Needs a conditional use permit | Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Planning Area 4 (S7) lists it P in 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 4.2, 4.9 and C in 5.6; the Division 3 matrix is C in 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 4.2. Planning Areas 5 and 38 use footnotes. Planning Areas 4, 5, 34 and 38 have their own matrices (S7, S8, S34, S36) that differ from Division 3 (e.g. PA 4 lists child care and churches as P in 2.3/2.4/3.1/4.2/4.9); PA 33 (S33) has narrative rules.
- 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: Planning Areas 4, 5, 34, 38 have their own land use matrices (S7, S8, S34, S36) and PA 33 has a narrative list (S33); Sec. 3-3-1 says it does not cover PAs 4, 5, 33, 34, 38. Not extracted.; Categories 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8: the Division 3 matrix cells only say "Section 3-37-23/25/26/27"; the district chapters for 4.x-9.x (Sec. 3-37-18 onward) are not in the packet.; Category 7.1 Military: only a reference cell ("Section 3-37-38").; Division 3 matrix pages 3, 4 (rows Dairy..Home occupation permit) and 9, 10 (Retail home improvement..Transitional housing) have shifted columns beyond 4.4; uses read from them are limited to categories 1.1-4.4, or dropped.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Irvine
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the 1.9 zone in Irvine?
Only with a conditional use permit. Irvine's use table lists it that way in 1.9 (Great Park) (Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS).
Can I have a child care center in the 1.1 zone in Irvine?
No. Irvine's use table does not allow it in 1.1 (Exclusive Agriculture) (Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS).
Can I have a child care center in the 4.9 zone in Irvine?
Yes. Irvine's use table lists it as allowed in 4.9 (Lower Peters Cyn. Regional Commercial) (Division 3 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND LAND USE REGULATIONS).
General information, not legal advice.
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