Waterford · Land use · Residential care home (7 or more)
Where is a residential care home for 7 or more people allowed in Waterford?
In Waterford, a residential care home for 7 or more people is needs a conditional use permit in 3 (RM, RH and PS, 2 with a condition) and not allowed in 1 (Waterford use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RM, RH and PS
- Not allowed: RS
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Waterford 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 residential care home for 7 or more people can go
Waterford's code calls this use “Residential care (general)”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RM | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note A: Rooms in a dwelling unit may be rented for occupancy by not more than three persons who are not members of a single housekeeping unit; provided that not more than two bedrooms shall be rented in each unit. Note C: Approval of a use permit shall require a finding that (1) the proposed use will have no significant unmitigated environmental impacts, does not have impacts on surrounding land and uses, in accordance with Chapter 17.72 (Standards of Review); and (2) the building design is compatible with surrounding buildings. | § 17.20.030 |
| RH | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note A: Rooms in a dwelling unit may be rented for occupancy by not more than three persons who are not members of a single housekeeping unit; provided that not more than two bedrooms shall be rented in each unit. Note C: Approval of a use permit shall require a finding that (1) the proposed use will have no significant unmitigated environmental impacts, does not have impacts on surrounding land and uses, in accordance with Chapter 17.72 (Standards of Review); and (2) the building design is compatible with surrounding buildings. | § 17.20.030 |
| PS Public and Semipublic | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.18.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
RS.
What else applies
- 'Residential care (limited)' is the small-home row: P in RS, RM, RH and CR; U,L in RE.
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3); this page covers larger homes.
- Not covered here: PC district (no use table); Chapter 17.22 mobile home park district RM (S11, not used).. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Waterford
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the RM zone in Waterford?
Only with a conditional use permit. Waterford's use table lists it that way in RM (§ 17.20.030). The code adds a condition: “Rooms in a dwelling unit may be rented for occupancy by not more than three persons who are not members of a single housekeeping unit; provided that not more than two bedrooms shall be rented in each unit. Approval…”
Can I have a residential care home for 7 or more people in the RS zone in Waterford?
No. Waterford's use table does not allow it in RS (§ 17.20.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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