Lancaster · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Lancaster?
In Lancaster, a child care center is allowed in 3 base zones (MU-N, MU-C and MU-E) and needs a permit in 13 (RR-2.5, RR-1, SRR, R-15,000, R-10,000 and 8 more) (Lancaster use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: MU-N, MU-C and MU-E
- Needs a permit: RR-2.5, RR-1, SRR, R-15,000, R-10,000, R-7,000, MDR, HDR and 5 more
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Lancaster 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
Lancaster's code calls this use “Daycare facility / 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MU-N | Allowed | § 17.10.050 |
| MU-C | Allowed | § 17.10.050 |
| MU-E | Allowed | § 17.10.050 |
| RR-2.5 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| RR-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| SRR | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| R-15,000 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| R-10,000 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| R-7,000 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| MDR | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| HDR | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.08.050 |
| C | Needs a director's review | § 17.12.040 |
| CPD | Needs a director's review | § 17.12.040 |
| OP Office Professional (OP) Zone | Needs a director's review | § 17.12.040 |
| LI | Needs a director's review | § 17.16.040 |
| HI | Needs a director's review | § 17.16.040 |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 17.08.190 (daycare facility standards, residential zones).
- Small and large family daycare are separate rows (P). "Day Care for Children Offered by Employer" is a separate accessory use (not used).
- 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: H (Hospital), P, S, O, Pk, Ce, SP, MHP zones (their use lists are not matrices of these uses); In residential matrix the cell covers a group of zones: RR-2.5/RR-1/SRR, R-15,000/R-10,000/R-7,000, MDR/HDR; each zone in the group gets that cell. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Lancaster
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the RR-2.5 zone in Lancaster?
Only with a conditional use permit. Lancaster's use table lists it that way in RR-2.5 (§ 17.08.050).
Can I have a child care center in the MU-N zone in Lancaster?
Yes. Lancaster's use table lists it as allowed in MU-N (§ 17.10.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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