Palm Desert · Land use · Child care center
Where is a child care center allowed in Palm Desert?
In Palm Desert, a child care center is needs a permit in 5 (PC-1, PC-2, PC-3, PC-4 and D, 1 with a condition) and not allowed in 3 (Palm Desert use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: PC-1, PC-2, PC-3, PC-4 and D
- Not allowed: OP, SI and DE
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Palm Desert 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
Palm Desert's code calls this use “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 |
|---|---|---|
| PC-1 | Needs an administrative use permit | § 25.16.030 |
| PC-2 | Needs an administrative use permit | § 25.16.030 |
| PC-3 | Needs an administrative use permit | § 25.16.030 |
| PC-4 | Needs an administrative use permit | § 25.16.030 |
| D | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 1: Uses prohibited along El Paseo facing ground floor frontages. | § 25.18.040 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- 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: Zone names are not stated in the packet (no zone list). Four matrices: S1 residential RE/R-1/R-2/R-3/R-1M/HPR/PR, S2 commercial/industrial OP/PC-1..PC-4/SI, S3 downtown D/D-O/DE/DE-O, S4 special P/OS.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Palm Desert
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a child care center in the PC-1 zone in Palm Desert?
Only with an administrative use permit. Palm Desert's use table lists it that way in PC-1 (§ 25.16.030).
Can I have a child care center in the OP zone in Palm Desert?
No. Palm Desert's use table does not allow it in OP (Office Professional) (§ 25.16.030).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a child care center at an address in Palm Desert
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
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