Harnett County, NC Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

110(C) of the Unified Development Ordinance regulates daycare and childcare facilities as a distinct land use. Subsection (C)(1) requires every daycare facility, whether adult daycare, childcare, or in-home childcare, to comply with all applicable state and federal health, safety, and welfare laws on top of the county's own standards. 110(C)(2)(a) requires the outdoor activity area to be enclosed by a fence or wall built of durable, purpose-made fencing material, with openings small enough that a four-inch-diameter sphere cannot pass through anywhere along it, and the enclosure has to sit outside the front building setback rather than facing the road.

Every gate or door through that fence needs a self-closing, self-latching mechanism that keeps it shut at all times, the one exception being a dwelling's own door where it forms part of the enclosure. Parking areas can't be allowed to abut the fenced play area unless the site plan includes ballasts or curbing to stop vehicles from rolling in. 110(C)(2)(b), face a higher bar: the security fence must be at least five feet high, also kept outside the front setback. These standards are checked at the site-plan and permitting stage by the county's Planning Department before a childcare use can open.