All of the following shall apply to large family day care homes:
(a)
A city, county, or city and county shall not prohibit large family day care homes on lots zoned for single-family dwellings, but shall do one of the following:(1)
Classify these homes as a permitted use of residential property for zoning purposes.(2)
Grant a nondiscretionary permit to use a lot zoned for a single-family dwelling to a large family day care home that complies with local ordinances prescribing reasonable standards, restrictions, and requirements concerning spacing and concentration, traffic control, parking, and noise control relating to those homes, and complies with subdivision (e) and regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to that subdivision. Noise standards shall be consistent with local noise ordinances implementing the noise element of the general plan and shall take into consideration the noise level generated by children. The permit issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted by the zoning administrator or, if there is no zoning administrator, by the person or persons designated by the planning agency to grant these permits, upon the certification without a hearing.(3)
Require a large family day care home to apply for a permit to use a lot zoned for single-family dwellings. The zoning administrator or, if there is no zoning administrator, the person or persons designated by the planning agency to handle the use permits, shall review and decide the applications. The use permit shall be granted if the large family day care home complies with local ordinances, if any, prescribing reasonable standards, restrictions, and requirements concerning the following factors: spacing and concentration, traffic control, parking, and noise control relating to those homes, and complies with subdivision (e) and regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to that subdivision. Noise standards shall be consistent with local noise ordinances implementing the noise element of the general plan and shall take into consideration the noise levels generated by children. The local government shall process a required permit as economically as possible. Fees charged for review shall not exceed the costs of the review and permit process. An applicant may request a verification of fees, and the city, county, or city and county shall provide the applicant with a written breakdown within 45 days of the request. Beginning July 1, 2007, the application form for large family day care home permits shall include a statement of the applicant’s right to request the written fee verification. Not less than 10 days prior to the date on which the decision will be made on the application, the zoning administrator or person designated to handle the use permits shall give notice of the proposed use by mail or delivery to all owners shown on the last equalized assessment roll as owning real property within a 100-foot radius of the exterior boundaries of the proposed large family day care home. A hearing on the application for a permit issued pursuant to this paragraph shall not be held before a decision is made unless a hearing is requested by the applicant or other affected person. The applicant or other affected person may appeal the decision. The appellant shall pay the cost, if any, of the appeal.(b)
In connection with an action taken pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a), a city, county, or city and county shall do all of the following:(1)
Upon the request of an applicant, provide a list of the permits and fees that are required by the city, county, or city and county, including information about other permits that may be required by other departments in the city, county, or city and county, or by other public agencies. The city, county, or city and county shall, upon request of an applicant, also provide information about the anticipated length of time for reviewing and processing the permit application.(2)
Upon the request of an applicant, provide information on the breakdown of any individual fees charged in connection with the issuance of the permit.(3)
If a deposit is required to cover the cost of the permit, provide information to the applicant about the estimated final cost to the applicant of the permit, and procedures for receiving a refund from the portion of the deposit not used.(c)
A large family day care home shall not be subject to the provisions of Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.(d)
Use of a single-family dwelling for the purposes of a large family day care home shall not constitute a change of occupancy for purposes of Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 17910) of Division 13 (State Housing Law), or for purposes of local building and fire codes.(e)
A large family day care home shall have one or more functioning carbon monoxide detectors that meet the requirements of Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 13260) of Part 2 of Division 12. The department shall account for the presence of the carbon monoxide detectors during inspections.(f)
Large family day care homes shall be considered as single-family residences for the purposes of the State Uniform Building Standards Code and local building and fire codes, except with respect to any additional standards specifically designed to promote the fire and life safety of the children in these homes adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this subdivision. The State Fire Marshal shall adopt separate building standards specifically relating to the subject of fire and life safety in large family day care homes, which shall be published in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. These standards shall apply uniformly throughout the state and shall include, but not be limited to: (1) the requirement that a large family day care home contain a fire extinguisher or smoke detector device, or both, that meets standards established by the State Fire Marshal; (2) specification as to the number of required exits from the home; and (3) specification as to the floor or floors on which day care may be provided. Enforcement of these provisions shall be in accordance with Sections 13145 and 13146. No city, county, city and county, or district shall adopt or enforce a building ordinance or local rule or regulation relating to the subject of fire and life safety in large family day care homes that is inconsistent with those standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal, except to the extent the building ordinance or local rule or regulation applies to single-family residences in which day care is not provided.(g)
The State Fire Marshal shall adopt the building standards required in subdivision (d) and any other regulations necessary to implement this section.
Source:
Section 1597.46, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1597.46..