Glynn County, GA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- § 700.4(1); mirrored in § 701.4 and § 704.2(21)
- Indoor space
- 35 sq ft per child minimum
- Outdoor play area
- 100 sq ft per child minimum
- Play area fence
- At least 4 feet high
- Required sign-offs
- GA Dept. of Human Resources + County Fire Chief
- Approval type
- Special use, prior to business license
Summary
A private childcare center, kindergarten, or pre-school allowed as a special use in Glynn County's residential and Forest Agricultural zoning districts must provide at least 35 square feet of indoor space per child and 100 square feet of fenced outdoor play area per child before it can open.
700.4Special Uses.1)Private childcare center, kindergarten or pre-school nursery provided:a)Buildings and structures which shall retain a residential appearance and character shall have a minimum of 35 square feet of useable space per child within the building;b)Outdoor play areas shall have a minimum of 100 square feet per child and shall be enclosed by a fence at least four feet in height;c)The location of parking, loading areas, buffers, hours of operation and renewal review dates shall be determined;d)Facilities shall meet all state and local requirements and codes for the operation of child care centers; ande)The location and operation shall receive the written approval of the Georgia Department of Human Resources and the approval of the Glynn County Fire Chief prior to the issuance of a business license.
Full Breakdown
The same standard appears wherever the zoning ordinance lists childcare as a special or conditional use, including the Village Residential (VR) district under Section 700.4, the R-6/R-9/M-6/M-9/Mh-6/Mh-9 one-family districts, and the Forest Agricultural (FA) district. The building must retain a residential appearance and character, and the outdoor play area must be enclosed by a fence at least four feet high. The location of parking, loading areas, buffers, hours of operation, and renewal review dates are set case by case as conditions of the special use approval, and the facility must independently meet all other state and local childcare codes. Because the ordinance lists this as a special use rather than a by-right use, opening one requires discretionary approval through the zoning process rather than a routine building permit alone.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required special-use approval, or below the minimum indoor and outdoor space and fencing standards, exposes the operator to zoning enforcement, including denial or revocation of site plan approval. The written approvals of the Georgia Department of Human Resources and the Glynn County Fire Chief are a precondition to the business license itself, so a facility that hasn't met these standards cannot be licensed to operate at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much indoor space does Glynn County require per child at a daycare?
Does the outdoor play yard need a fence?
Who has to sign off before a childcare center can get its business license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glynn County
Compare Glynn County to another location·View the Georgia building safety overview
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