Marysville, WA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Day Care II threshold
- Over 12 children/adults
- Min site size
- 0.5 acre
- Approval needed
- Conditional use permit
- Licensing required
- State building/fire/health codes
Summary
Marysville requires larger childcare centers (Day Care II, over 12 children) to sit on lots over half an acre, get a conditional use permit, and meet the same building, fire, and health-code standards as home day cares.
Day care IIs must be located on sites larger than one-half acre and are subject to minimum standards identified in Chapter 22C.200 MMC for day care I facilities. Parking facilities and loading areas shall be located to the rear of buildings or be constructed in a manner consistent with the surrounding residential character. Evaluation of site suitability shall be reviewed through the conditional use permit process.
(26) Public safety facilities, including police and fire, shall comply with the following:
(a) All buildings and structures shall maintain a minimum distance of 20 feet from property lines adjoining residential zones;
(b) Any buildings from which fire-fighting equipment emerges onto a street shall maintain a distance of 35 feet from such street.
(27) Accessory to an apartment development of at least 12 units, provided:
(a) The gross floor area in self-service storage shall not exceed 50 percent of the total gross floor area of the apartment dwellings on the site;
(b) All outdoor lights shall be deflected, shaded and focused away from all adjoining property;
(c) The use of the facility shall be limited to dead storage of household goods;
(d) No servicing or repair of motor vehicles, boats, trailers, lawn mowers or similar equipment;
(e) No outdoor storage or storage of flammable liquids, highly combustible or explosive materials or hazardous chemicals;
(f) No residential occupancy of the storage units;
(g)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4922912; v1 updated 2026-06-08; through 06-08-2026).
Full Breakdown
Facilities serving more than 12 children or adults are classified Day Care II under MMC § 22A.020.050 and, per § 22C.010.070(25), must sit on a site larger than half an acre, route parking and loading to the rear, and go through conditional use permit review for site suitability. Development standards flow from Chapter 22C.200 MMC: state licensing covering building, fire safety, and health codes is mandatory, with the license filed alongside the business license application, plus a safe passenger loading area and a four-foot fence screening any outdoor play area next to residential zoning.
Violations & Fines
Running a Day Care II center on an undersized lot, without CUP approval, or without the required state building/fire-safety license is both a zoning and business-license violation subject to city enforcement and closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size lot does a childcare center need in Marysville?
Does the state license cover building and fire safety?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marysville
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