High Point, NC Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Play-yard fence
- 4 feet minimum
- Residential-buffer screen
- 6 feet opaque
- Street access
- No residential local street
- Licensing
- State day care license required
Summary
High Point requires every day care center to hold State licensing, front on a street classified higher than a residential local street, and fully enclose its outdoor play yard with a fence at least 4 feet tall under § 4.3.3.B.1.
A day care center shall comply with the following standards: (a) Meet all applicable State licensing requirements; ... (d) Outdoor recreation areas shall: (1) Be located behind the front building line of the principal building; (2) Be completely enclosed by a fence that is at least 4 feet in height; and (3) Be safely segregated from parking, loading, or service areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9 | Development Ordinance: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Section 4.3.3.B.1 of the Development Ordinance sets site-safety standards for day care centers city-wide: the facility must meet all State day care licensing requirements, gain street access from a street classified higher than a residential local street (unless on a corner lot with thoroughfare frontage), and place the outdoor recreation area behind the front building line, fully enclosed by a minimum 4-foot fence and segregated from parking, loading, and service areas. Where the play yard adjoins a residential district, it must also be screened by a 6-foot opaque fence or wall.
Violations & Fines
A day care center built without the required 4-foot play-yard fence, State licensing, or proper street access is an unpermitted institutional use, exposing the operator to zoning enforcement action or a denied certificate of occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall must the fence be around a High Point day care's play yard?
Can a day care center front directly on a residential street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in High Point
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Childcare Center Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle childcare center rules.