Bothell, WA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- BMC 12.06.100, notes 2 and 3
- Licensing
- Subject to all state licensing requirements
- R-M4 zone
- Residential design features required
- Independent centers
- Conditional in R-M4, R-MHP, R-AC; permitted in OP, NB, CB, GC
- Same-site centers
- No added parking required for the day care use
Summary
In the City of Bothell, Washington, day care centers are governed by the use table and notes in BMC 12.06.100. Adult and child day care must meet all state licensing requirements, centers in the R-M4 zone must incorporate residential design features, and centers serving residents or employees on the same site get a parking allowance.
2. Includes adult and child day care, subject to all state licensing requirements. Day care centers in the R-M4 zone shall incorporate residential design features. 3. Day care centers providing care for children and/or adult relatives of owners or renters of dwelling units located on the same site, and day care centers providing care for children and/or adult relatives of employees of a separate business establishment located on the same site, shall be given the following allowances to encourage development of such uses: a. Such day care centers shall not be required to provide parking for the day care use in addition to parking required for the primary business or the dwelling units; and b. Such day care centers may provide care for children and/or adults other than those related to employees of the on-site business or the owners or renters of the on-site dwelling units.
Full Breakdown
Bothell separates home-based family day care from day care centers. Note 1 of BMC 12.06.100 sends family day care, adult family homes and other residential-in-nature services to BMC 12.06.140. Everything else is a day care center under BMC 12.06.100, and note 2 says the category includes adult and child day care, subject to all state licensing requirements.
Where a center can locate depends on the zone. In the use table, an independent day care center is not permitted in R-C, R-L1, R-L2 or R-M1 through R-M3, is marked C (conditional use) in R-M4, R-MHP and R-AC, is permitted (P) in OP, NB, CB and GC, and is not permitted in LI. A separate row lists day care centers in existing schools as permitted in every zone column except LI.
Note 2 adds a design rule: day care centers in the R-M4 zone shall incorporate residential design features. Note 3 gives two allowances to encourage on-site care. They apply to centers caring for children and/or adult relatives of owners or renters of dwelling units on the same site, and to centers caring for children and/or adult relatives of employees of a separate business establishment on the same site. Those centers are not required to provide parking for the day care use in addition to the parking required for the primary business or the dwelling units. They can also care for children and/or adults who are not related to the on-site employees, owners or renters.
This section sets zoning and operating conditions for the City of Bothell. The state license named in note 2 is the gate for the care program itself.
Violations & Fines
A day care center operating in a zone where the use table does not permit it, or without the state licensing note 2 requires, violates the City of Bothell zoning code. Under BMC 1.24.010, unless an ordinance prescribes a different punishment, a violation is a misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $1,000, imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both. BMC 1.24.020 makes each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an independent day care center open in a Bothell R-L1 or R-L2 neighborhood?
Does a workplace day care in Bothell need its own parking?
Who can attend a same-site day care center in Bothell?
Do state licensing rules apply to Bothell day care centers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bothell
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Childcare Center Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle childcare center rules.