A daycare center usually needs commercial zoning, and some residential zones allow one with a conditional use permit. Small home daycares follow different rules, so the number of children you plan to care for often decides which zoning you need.
New to zoning types? Read what commercial zoning means and what it allows.
C - Commercial
or
R - Residential
Is a daycare center allowed in Columbus?
Open the Columbus zoning map to find a property's zoning district, then check what that district allows.
Check zoning in Columbus, OH →Zoning codes and state licensing both split child care into two groups. A family child care home is run in the provider's own house with a small group of children. A daycare center cares for larger groups in a separate building, usually a commercial one.
| Home daycare | Daycare center | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical zoning | Residential, as a home-based use | Commercial, or residential with a conditional use permit |
| Size | Small group capped by state license | Set by building space and staffing |
| Building | The provider's home | Classrooms, play yard, drop-off area |
| Local approval | Often a home occupation permit or none | Zoning approval, building permit, certificate of occupancy |
Where the line falls depends on the state. ChildCare.gov notes that some states require a family child care license once a provider cares for more than one unrelated child, while others don't until the provider cares for six or more. The home business zoning page covers the general rules for running a business from a house, and the residential zoning guide explains what those districts usually allow.
Opening a center means lining up three approvals that run on separate tracks:
Licensing staff often won't inspect until the building is approved, and the building department won't sign off without the right zoning. Start with zoning, but contact the licensing office early so the building is designed to their rules. The childcare facility zoning page covers the building and space side in detail.
Some states limit how cities can zone child care. New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law makes state-licensed child care centers a permitted use in all nonresidential districts and excludes their floor area from parking and density calculations. Other states have their own rules, especially for family child care homes in residential zones, so ask your state licensing agency whether one applies.
A good site for a center tends to have these features:
Freestanding buildings, former schools and church education wings often work better than strip mall units. The parking calculator gives a quick estimate of the spaces a site needs.
Expect fire exits, smoke alarms, accessible restrooms, child-sized fixtures and a fenced outdoor area, with exact rules set by the building code and state licensing. The building department and licensing office can review your plans before construction.
Only if your state exempts the number of children you care for. Even a license-exempt home daycare may need a local home occupation permit, so check with the planning department too.
In some districts. If the use table marks child care centers as conditional, you will need a permit and a public hearing, which can add months before you open.
No. A dog daycare is an animal care use with its own rules on noise and waste; see dog daycare zoning for those.