Novato · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Novato?
In Novato, a child care center is needs an use permit in 6 (BPO, CN, CG, CDR, CDB and 1 more, 1 with a condition) and not allowed in 1 (Novato use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: BPO, CN, CG, CDR, CDB and LIO
- Not allowed: CI
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Novato 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
Novato's code calls this use “Child/adult day care centers”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BPO Business and Professional Office | Needs an use permit | § 19.12.030 |
| CN Neighborhood Commercial | Needs an use permit | § 19.12.030 |
| CG General Commercial | Needs an use permit | § 19.12.030 |
| CDR Downtown Core Retail | Needs an use permit — see note Note 5: For properties with building frontage on Grant Avenue or Redwood Boulevard: Use allowed only on upper floor or rear of building, with ground floor street frontage reserved for retail, entertainment and personal service uses. | § 19.12.030 |
| CDB Downtown Core Business | Needs an use permit | § 19.12.030 |
| LIO Light Industrial/Office | Needs an use permit | § 19.12.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
CI.
What else applies
- Standards for this use: § 19.34.070 Child/adult day care (section text not in packet).
- Table 2-2 splits by size: 8 or fewer clients A P, C P; 9 to 14 clients A P (OS, ROS, C not allowed); 15 or more clients A UP (others not allowed). Not merged into these cells. Residential districts not covered.
- 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 (Table 2-4): the stored text of 19.10.030 has no table, so no residential-district cell can be read. The 'uses not listed are not allowed' rule (19.06.030 C) is no help there.; Agricultural and resource districts A, OS, ROS, C (Table 2-2): no Emergency Shelter row in the table (not allowed under 19.06.030 C).; Special purpose districts (Table 2-9) and PD: no table text; PD uses come from the adopted Master Plan.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Novato
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the BPO zone in Novato?
Only with an use permit. Novato's use table lists it that way in BPO (Business and Professional Office) (§ 19.12.030).
Can I have a child care center in the CI zone in Novato?
No. Novato's use table does not allow it in CI (Commercial/Industrial) (§ 19.12.030).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a child care center at an address in Novato
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