Microschools and micro-education entities.
SB 1086
California Bills
20250SB__108698AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-13 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-04-07 2025 SB AMD Introduced by Senator Dahle LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Dahle
An act to add
Section 65852.10 to the Government Code, relating to land use. land use Microschools and micro-education entities. Existing law authorizes the legislative body of any county or city to adopt ordinances that, among other things, regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land as between industry, business, residences, open space, and other purposes. This bill would require the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, in consultation with specified state entities, to develop and publish one or more model ordinances regarding micro-education entities and microschools.
The bill would define various terms for these purposes. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.
Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.</xhtml:p>"?> MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows: <caml:Num>SECTION 1.</caml:Num><caml:Content><xhtml:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Parents have a fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of their children.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Microschools and micro-education entities are lawful educational models that serve families seeking alternatives to traditional public and private schools.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Inconsistent local land use regulations have created unnecessary barriers to the establishment and operation of microschools and micro-education entities.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The state has a legitimate interest in ensuring that land use regulation does not operate as a de facto prohibition on lawful educational activity.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(e)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It is the intent of the Legislature to provide uniform, objective, and predictable land use standards for microschools and micro-education entities while preserving local authority over health and safety matters.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:BillSection>"?>
SECTION
Section 65852.10 is added to the Government Code , to read: 65852.10. (
a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Local agency” means a city, county, city and county, charter city, charter county, or charter city and county. (2) “Micro-education entity” means an individual or association of individuals that meets all of the following requirements: (
A) They have registered as a business entity or nonprofit organization pursuant to state and local law. (
B) They provide instruction for kindergarten and grades to 12, inclusive. (
C) They serve more than and fewer than students at one time. (
D) They are a private school that has filed an affidavit pursuant to
Section of the Education Code and are not a school operated by a school district or county office of education, a charter school, or a state special school. (3) “Microschool” means an individual or association of individuals that meets all of the following requirements: (
A) They have registered as a business entity or nonprofit organization pursuant to state and local law. (
B) They provide instruction for kindergarten and grades to 12, inclusive. (
C) They serve or fewer students at one time. (
D) They operate from a residential dwelling, accessory dwelling unit, or residential property. (
E) They are a private school that has filed an affidavit pursuant to
Section of the Education Code and are not a school operated by a school district or county office of education, a charter school, or a state special school. (4) “Model ordinance” means an ordinance developed pursuant to subdivision (b). (b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A microschool shall be considered a permitted use on any land for which applicable zoning standards allow residential use.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A micro-education entity shall be considered a permitted use on any land for which applicable zoning standards allow residential, mixed-use, commercial, or industrial use.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A microschool operating in a residential dwelling shall be subject only to the building and fire codes applicable to residential occupancy.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A microschool shall provide not less than net square feet of instructional space per student.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A micro-education entity may only operate in a building that meets either of the following requirements:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It meets California Building Code Group E occupancy standards.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It meets other occupancy classifications permitted by the model ordinance, subject to objective fire and life safety requirements.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall not require a conditional use permit, zoning variance, or other zoning approval for a use described in subdivision (b).</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>If a local agency requires a permit for a use described in subdivision (b), the local agency shall comply with both of the following requirements:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It shall process the permit ministerially and without discretionary review or a public hearing.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It shall prioritize processing the permit.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall not change a zoning classification mainly due to the operation of a microschool or micro-education entity.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(4)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency may require a microschool or micro-education entity to obtain a business license.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(5)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall not require a microschool or micro-education entity to obtain a health permit unless food is prepared and served onsite.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall regulate food preparation in a microschool operating in a residential dwelling in the same manner as, and no more stringently than, other residential food preparation.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(6)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall not apply parking requirements to a microschool that exceed those applicable to residential uses generally.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall not apply parking requirements to a micro-education entity that exceeds the minimum parking requirements applicable to schools or other similar institutional uses.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(7)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency may require reasonable traffic management measures for a microschool or micro-education entity that are based on objective criteria, including, but not limited to, staggered pickup and dropoff times.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(8)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall allow the hours of operation for a microschool or micro-education entity to be between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except for occasional meetings or events.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(9)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A local agency shall not regulate any of the following with respect to a microschool or micro-education entity:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(A)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Curriculum or instructional content.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(B)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Instructional materials or methods.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(C)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Teacher credentials or licensure.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(D)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Student testing or assessment.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(E)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Immunization status, except as otherwise required by state law.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(e)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff in an action brought to enforce, or as a result of a violation, of this chapter.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(f)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>(1)</xhtml:p>"?> (
b) By January 1, 2028, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, in consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, shall develop and publish one or more model ordinances regarding micro-education entities and microschools, which shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (A)</xhtml:p>"?>
(1) Building and fire safety requirements. (B)</xhtml:p>"?>
(2) Parking and traffic management. (C)</xhtml:p>"?>
(3) Hours of operation. (D)</xhtml:p>"?>
(4) Signage. (E)</xhtml:p>"?>
(5) Outdoor activity and noise. (2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Within days of publication of a model ordinance pursuant to paragraph (1), a local agency shall adopt an ordinance that is consistent with, and not more restrictive than, the model ordinance.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>An ordinance adopted by a local agency that conflicts with or is more restrictive than a model ordinance published pursuant to paragraph (1) is void and unenforceable. </xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(g)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The Legislature finds and declares that this
section addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in
Section of
Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, this
section applies to all cities, including charter cities.</xhtml:p>"?> <caml:Num>SEC. 3.</caml:Num><caml:Content><xhtml:p>If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to