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Knoxville, TN Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Day care home cap
7 unrelated, non-resident children
Licensing
TDHS license required and posted
Pickup/drop-off
Can't block right-of-way or drive aisle
Citation
Appendix B (Zoning Code) § 9.3.E

Summary

Knoxville requires day care centers and day care homes to hold Tennessee Department of Human Services licensing, post it publicly, and provide a compliant pickup/drop-off area under the city's zoning code.

E. Day Care Center and Day Care Home 1. Each day care center or day care home must comply with all applicable Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) regulations, including required indoor and outdoor space. 2. The day care center's or day care home's operator's license must be displayed publicly. 4. A day care home is limited to the care of seven unrelated individuals who do not reside in the home.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).

Full Breakdown

Knoxville's zoning code regulates day care centers and day care homes as a listed use across the city's zoning districts. Every facility must meet Tennessee Department of Human Services licensing rules for indoor and outdoor space, and the operator's state license must be displayed publicly. A day care center must provide an on-site pickup/drop-off area that doesn't interfere with vehicle circulation in the right-of-way or a parking lot and can't block any drive aisle. A day care home is capped at seven unrelated children who don't live in the home; care for more than that shifts the facility into the day care center category with its own separate standards.

Violations & Fines

Operating without a publicly displayed TDHS license, skipping the required pickup/drop-off area, or exceeding the seven-child cap for a day care home is a zoning code violation enforceable by the City.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Knoxville day care home need a license?
Yes. Tennessee Department of Human Services licensing is required, and the operator's license must be posted publicly per Appendix B § 9.3.E of the Knoxville zoning code.
How many children can a Knoxville day care home watch?
Up to seven unrelated children who don't reside in the home. Caring for more requires operating as a day care center, not a day care home, under the same section.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Knoxville

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All Knoxville rules

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