Long Beach · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Long Beach?
In Long Beach, a child care center is allowed in 18 base zones (CNP, CNA, CNR, CCA, CCP and 13 more, 10 with a condition) and needs a conditional use permit in 5 (CS, IL, IM, IG and IP, 4 with a condition) (Long Beach use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: CNP, CNA, CNR, CCA, CCP, CCR, CCN, CHW and 10 more
- Needs a permit: CS, IL, IM, IG and IP
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Long 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
Long Beach's code calls this use “Daycare or pre-school (commercial); 14.5 Daycare facilities (industrial); Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More (Title 22)”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CNP | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| CNA | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| CNR | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| CCA | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| CCP | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| CCR | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| CCN | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| CHW | Allowed | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| RMU3 | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| RMU4 | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| MU-1 | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| MU-2 | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| MU-M | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| MU-3 | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| C3 | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| C-M | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| MFR-L | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| MFR-M | Allowed — see note Note Additional Regulations: As defined in 21.15.730, subject to 21.52.249. (Row: Daycare Center or Pre-School, 15 or More) | § 22.15.030 |
| CS | Needs a conditional use permit | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| IL | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note Additional Regulations: Row 14.5 Daycare facilities (SIC code 835) | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| IM | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note Additional Regulations: Row 14.5 Daycare facilities (SIC code 835) | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| IG | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note Additional Regulations: Row 14.5 Daycare facilities (SIC code 835) | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
| IP | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note Additional Regulations: Row 14.5 Daycare facilities (SIC code 835) | Division I — PERMITTED USES |
What else applies
- Standards for this use: § 21.52.249 Nursery schools, day nurseries, preschools, childcare centers, daycare centers.
- Title 22 NI-1/NI-2 have two rows that disagree (15 or More: N/C; Adult or Child Day Care: N/N), so NI cells are left out. Park district: City-staffed/cooperative daycare Y, nonprofit C. Child Day Care Home (14 or fewer) is accessory (A) in mixed-use and MF zones.
- 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 districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 families): Table 31-1 in 21.31.110 (S2) is not in the text, only its intro; Institutional district (I): Table 34-1 in 21.34.110 (S5) is not in the text; Public right-of-way district: Table 36-1 (S7) is not in the text; Planned development districts and specific plans (PD-x, SP): use rules are in each plan. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Long Beach
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the CS zone in Long Beach?
Only with a conditional use permit. Long Beach's use table lists it that way in CS (Division I — PERMITTED USES).
Can I have a child care center in the CNP zone in Long Beach?
Yes. Long Beach's use table lists it as allowed in CNP (Division I — PERMITTED USES).
General information, not legal advice.
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