Lenexa, KS Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Lenexa City Code § 4-1-B-23-E applies to all three daycare classes, which § 4-3-C-2 sorts by headcount: limited daycare cares for up to 6 individuals, general daycare for 7 to 12, and commercial daycare for more than 12. Children of the provider and of employees count toward those totals. A daycare means care for children under 16 away from their primary residences for less than 24 hours per day, and school-run programs and adult day care are excluded.

Every daycare has to be licensed with the State, obtain required permits from the Department of Community Development, and obtain a City business license. The initial special use permit for a general daycare in a residential or agricultural district is valid for a maximum of 10 years, and each renewal can run up to 10 years. Special use permits in nonresidential and nonagricultural districts can be approved on a permanent basis. Limited and general daycares can have no more than 1 employee other than persons who reside on the premises, and the providers must live there.

If the State requires an outdoor play area, it has to be on the same lot as the daycare and outside the required front yard setback. A rental property needs written consent signed by the owner before a business license or special use permit is issued. Commercial daycares, and daycares operating as accessory uses, can be required to submit a traffic impact study to the Transportation Manager, and no on-street parking or loading is allowed for the activity. Daycare, preschools and Mother's Day Out programs in religious, educational and community buildings are accessory uses. Limited daycare is permitted in the AG, RE and R-1 districts, while general daycare needs special use approval from the Governing Body after a Planning Commission hearing.