CHILDCARE FACILITIES
Contra Costa County has two childcare goals: to assist and encourage the development of adequate, affordable, high quality childcare; and to maximize parental choice for childcare facility options in the community.
Childcare facilities are categorized this way:
The development of high quality childcare and preschool facilities is encouraged through County policies and ordinances. Childcare facilities are encouraged in conjunction with or located near schools, church facilities, employment centers hospitals, parks and along transit routes.
County approval of a proposed development project requires the provision of childcare and preschool facilities when a significant demand is created by the project.
Proposed commercial and residential projects which do not directly provide childcare or preschool facilities are required to comply with the County's Childcare Facilities Ordinance. The Ordinance has been adopted to assure that developers address the child care needs associated with proposed projects.
All subdivisions of 30 or more units or non-residential projects having 100 or more potential employees or 15,000 gross square feet are required by the Ordinance to have childcare mitigation plans. The plans must be submitted before development applications can be accepted as complete.
A childcare mitigation plan includes a survey or assessment of the estimated child care needs which will result from the proposed project. The plan must include a response program showing how the childcare needs will be mitigated within the County.
A response program includes the locations and capacities of existing or proposed childcare facilities and describes how these facilities will be used, established, maintained and operated.
The staff of the Community Development Department will determine the adequacy of a response program prior to a public hearing on a project.
All subdivisions of fewer than 30 units are required to pay a child care fee which will be used to expand child care in the geographical area of the subdivision. The fees are: $400 per unit for single family homes; $200 per unit for condominiums or town-houses; or $100 per unit for apartments with 2 or more bedrooms.
Please see Contra Costa County Code Chapter 82-22 for the entire text of the Childcare Facilities Ordinance.
Please direct your questions regarding this Ordinance to the Community Development Department staff at 925-335-1360.