Laguna Niguel / South Orange County
Licensed child care in Laguna Niguel is spread along Niguel Road (Pacific Preschool and Montessori of Laguna Niguel), Alicia Parkway (KinderCare), Avila Road (Tutor Time) and La Plata Drive (Childtime). Tutoring and enrichment has already found its way into the larger Crown Valley Parkway retail: The Center at Rancho Niguel lists Huntington Learning Center and Mission Renaissance in its directory. Because tutoring only needs a minor use permit in the CN and CC districts while child care needs a full use permit, inline shop space on Crown Valley is a more realistic target for tutoring than for a licensed preschool.
Population
64,139
Median HHI
$140,452
Median age
47.6
Homeownership
67.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
Primary retail corridors
Crown Valley Parkway · Alicia Parkway · La Paz Road · Pacific Coast Highway · Niguel Road
Specific shopping centers in Laguna Niguel that already carry credible co-tenancy for this use. Listed in approximate order of fit.
28231–28301 Crown Valley Parkway
Anchors / key tenants: Nordstrom Rack, Ralphs Fresh Fare, CVS, Regency Cinemas, BevMo!
Size: 360,000 SF
Dominant community center pulling from Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, and Mission Viejo. Mix includes Starbucks, SusieCakes, Snooze A.M. Eatery, Chick-fil-A, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, and Faucets N Fixtures. Top of the South County co-tenancy ladder.
Existing operators are the most honest comp for whether a use can support Laguna Niguel rents. These are publicly visible daycare and education space businesses currently trading in the market.
Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Center
24291 Avila Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Licensed day care center, CDSS facility 304370256, licensed capacity 170, the largest of the centers we checked in the city.
Pacific Preschool
31341 Niguel Road, Suite H, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Licensed day care center in a multi-suite building, CDSS facility 300610655, licensed capacity 115. Licensed since 1991.
Montessori of Laguna Niguel
31171 Niguel Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Licensed day care center, CDSS facility 304371430, licensed capacity 60. First licensed in 2020.
KinderCare Learning Center (Alicia Parkway)
30075 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Licensed day care center, CDSS facility 304270334, licensed capacity 72. A second KinderCare at 25189 Beacon Hill Way is licensed for 96 (facility 304270685).
Huntington Learning Center
The Center at Rancho Niguel, Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Tutoring and test prep tenant listed in the shopping center's own directory. The directory does not give a full street number for the suite.
Mission Renaissance
28251 Crown Valley Parkway, Suite E, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Art instruction studio with a children's program, listed in The Center at Rancho Niguel directory.
01
Child care zoning: Table 4.1 in Municipal Code Section 9-1-42 lists child day care facilities, centers and preschools as a principal use with a "U" (use permit) in every nonresidential district: CN, CC, CO, BP, PI and the Mixed-Use Town Center. Section 9-1-45.24 says the use permit is processed under Section 9-1-114 and applies regardless of the number of children.
02
Drop-off and hours: Section 9-1-45.24 requires an onsite pickup and dropoff area plus an onsite vehicle turnaround or separate entrance and exit points, and limits outdoor activities to 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Walk the center's drive aisles with that in mind before you pick a suite.
03
Tutoring and studios: Table 4.1 lists tutorial services and learning centers as "M" (minor use permit) in CN, CC, CO, BP and MU-TC and prohibited in PI. Health clubs, martial arts and dance studios under 5,000 sq ft are also a minor use permit, and over 5,000 sq ft need a use permit. Private swim schools are prohibited in CN and CC and need a use permit in CO, BP, PI and MU-TC.
04
Parking: Section 9-1-66 requires 1 space per staff member plus 1 space per 5 children for day care and preschools, or 1 space per 10 children if adequate drop-off facilities are provided, and the City may ask for a stacking analysis to prove the drop-off works. Get the landlord's parking count and any exclusive or reserved stalls in writing.
05
State licensing space: 22 CCR 101238.3 requires 35 sq ft of indoor activity space per child and 22 CCR 101238.2 requires 75 sq ft of fenced outdoor space per child (fence at least four feet high). A 72-child center like the KinderCare on Alicia Parkway works out to 2,520 sq ft of countable indoor activity space and 5,400 sq ft of outdoor play area, which has to come from somewhere other than required parking.
06
Fire clearance: 22 CCR 101171 requires a fire clearance for every child care center. Tie the lease contingency period to the use permit, fire clearance and CDSS license, not just to the use permit.
Zoning, licensing, and demographic figures on this page come from the public records below. Codes and licenses change, so confirm with the city and the licensing agency before you sign.