Gordon County, GA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Section 4.03.12 of the Gordon County, Georgia Unified Land Development Code sorts child care by headcount, and the largest tier is the one this page covers. A center, nursery school, or private preschool or Pre-K school with nineteen (19) or more children is permissible only in the O-I, C-C, C-G and C-H zoning districts. The agricultural and residential districts are not on that list, so a large center cannot be opened in a residential neighborhood of unincorporated Gordon County under this section.

Every facility regulated by the section must comply with State regulations and acquire the applicable State licenses for operation. The land-use standards in Table 4.03.12(E) apply on top of that licensing. The center must operate from a freestanding structure, within a religious facility that meets the standards of Section 4.03.10, or within a private school. Outdoor play space must be at least 100 square feet per child and must be fully enclosed by a fence at least five (5) feet in height built to the standards of Section 5.02.03. Indoor play space must be at least 35 square feet per child, and the drop-off location must be off-street. Because each figure is counted per child, the required indoor and outdoor area grows with enrollment, so the capacity you propose drives the size of the site you need.

A church that runs child care as an accessory use follows Section 4.03.10 instead. Child or adult day care is a listed accessory use of a religious facility, and Section 4.03.10(E) requires an off-street drop-off area with the entrance and vehicle drop off points kept off any street providing primary access to residences, unless that street is classified as a collector or arterial. Section 4.03.10(D) also keeps outdoor play or activity areas no closer than fifty (50) feet from any residential property line and requires loudspeaker or paging systems to be located so they cannot be heard at the property line of adjacent properties.