The Ordinance is effective in all Unincorporated areas of the County, including the Coastal Zone. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted the Child Care Facilities Ordinance on May 4, 2021. The Ordinance was certified by the California Coastal Commission on October 14, 2022.
The Ordinance eases and streamlines permitting requirements for child care centers by creating a ministerial approval process. The Ordinance allows child care centers in the following circumstances with a ministerial permit:
Outside of the Coastal Zone:
- Within existing buildings, allowing for limited expansion, in areas zoned or designated by the General Plan for Commercial or Institutional, or Commercial Residential Mixed Use land uses. In urban areas outside of the Coastal Zone, new buildings up to 10,000 sq. ft. may be allowed subject to further criteria.
- Within converted single-family residences on parcels of conforming size which are zoned for Single-Family Residential land uses.
- Within existing or expanded institutional buildings or public facilities, as defined by the Ordinance.
In the Coastal Zone:
- Within existing buildings, allowing for limited expansion, in areas within an Institutional or Commercial Zoning District or in an existing Institutional Building or Public Facility, as defined by the Ordinance.
Child care centers that do not meet the criteria of the Ordinance require a Use Permit, as well as a Coastal Development Permit (if located in the Coastal Zone).