Loudoun County, VA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

C sets the use-specific standards for Child Day Centers, distinct from smaller residential Child Day Homes covered in subsection B. 04, a County Business License, and a State Child Day Center License issued under the Code of Virginia; the standard is explicitly not modifiable by Minor Special Exception. Unless the center qualifies for the park exemption, it must provide an on-site outdoor play area sized at 75 square feet for each child permitted outdoors at one time, fully enclosed by a fence at least 3 feet 6 inches tall so that every child inside remains within direct line of sight of the classroom areas.

The play area cannot sit in the required front yard or setback, though it may extend into side and rear yards, and it must be segregated from parking, loading, and service areas such as dumpster pads. The park exemption applies only if a public park or equivalent play area at least twice the required size lies within 1,000 feet, is reachable without crossing an arterial or collector road, and is shown on an approved development plan. Traffic safety standards require a dedicated pickup/drop-off area providing at least 1 parking space per 20 children, positioned to keep vehicles and children separated.

In the TSN, TCN, and TCC Zoning Districts, a Child Day Center is capped at 50 children, and the use is not permitted at all on Residential Cluster Lots within AR Cluster Subdivisions. The whole framework, adopted by ZOAM-2020-0002, took effect March 12, 2025.