Lee's Summit, MO Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Capacity requiring SUP
- 5 to 10 persons in care
- Hours allowed
- 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Permit holder
- Tied to named provider, non-transferable
- State license
- Current state license proof required
- Smaller option
- 1-4 persons = permitted 'day care home'
- Penalty
- $10-$250/day fine, up to 10 days jail
Summary
Lee's Summit requires a special use permit for any "day care, group" operation caring for five to ten people at once in most residential zoning districts, per UDO Section 6.840; the city licenses the permit to a named provider, caps hours to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and requires proof of a current state license before a permit issues.
Group day care is a special use in a residential structure occupied by a day care provider that cares for between five and ten persons for care for any part of a 24-hour day. The following requirements shall apply: A.The permit shall be issued to a particular provider. A change in the day care provider shall require another public hearing.B.All applicable state licensing requirements must be met. Proof of a current state license shall be required.C.Adequate access shall be provided that allows for pick-up and discharge of children or adults without creating traffic disruption on adjacent streets.D.Adequate outdoor space shall be provided for recreation purposes without creating a disturbance to surrounding properties.E.Usual hours of operation are limited to 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 | Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
840 of the Unified Development Ordinance defines "group day care" as a special use in a residential structure occupied by a day care provider caring for between five and ten persons for any part of a 24-hour day, and the citywide use table lists Day Care, Group (5-10 persons) as an "S" special use across the RDR, RLL, R-1, RP-1, RP-2, RP-3, RP-4 and TNZ districts, meaning it needs a special use permit and a Planning Commission and Governing Body public hearing rather than being allowed by right.
m. B that does not need a special use permit or public hearing. Facilities caring for more than ten persons fall under the separate "Day Care Center" classification, which the use table lists as a permitted use in commercial and other non-residential districts rather than a residential special use. Because the group day care permit is tied to the individual provider, a new operator taking over an existing facility must reapply and go through a new hearing even if the building, capacity and hours stay identical.
Violations & Fines
Operating a group day care without the required special use permit, exceeding the ten-person cap, or running outside the 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. window violates Section 6.840 and the UDO generally. Under Section 1.170.C, that is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $10 to $250 per day the violation continues, or up to ten days in jail, with repeat violations at the same address raising fines to $100-$500 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Lee's Summit home day care need a special use permit?
Can a group day care operate around the clock?
What happens if the day care provider changes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee's Summit
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Childcare Center Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle childcare center rules.