Provo, UT Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Conditional Use Permit (Planning Commission)
- Building standard
- International Building Code before occupancy
- State license deadline
- Within 60 days of City approval
- Playground fence
- 6-foot fence around full perimeter
- Site plan
- Must show parking, circulation, drop-off
- Family Group Day Care cap
- 12 children (home-based, separate rule)
Summary
A Child Day Care Center in Provo needs a Conditional Use Permit and must meet Section 14.34.250(7)(b)'s building, licensing, site-plan, and fencing standards before it can open, including International Building Code compliance and a six-foot fence around the outdoor playground.
(a) Family Group Day Care (defined in Section 14.06.020, Provo City Code). (i) The provider is limited to twelve (12) children. The provider must reside in the residence where services are provided. (b) Child Day Care Centers (defined in Section 14.06.020, Provo City Code). (i) All Centers must comply with the International Building Code prior to occupancy and must receive a license from the State of Utah within sixty (60) days after approval by the City; (ii) A site plan shall be submitted identifying parking, vehicle circulation and drop off/pick up locations. The Development Services Director or designee shall ensure that the site plan meets these requirements; and (iii) Outdoor playground area shall have a six (6) foot fence around the perimeter.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-17, passed June 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040 before the center can operate. 250(7)(b) layers on center-specific standards: the building must comply with the International Building Code before anyone occupies it, and the operator must obtain a license from the State of Utah within 60 days after the City approves the use. The operator also has to submit a site plan showing parking, vehicle circulation, and drop-off and pick-up locations, which the Development Services Director or a designee reviews for adequacy, and the outdoor playground area must be enclosed by a six-foot fence around its entire perimeter.
270 caps at six children and layers on a Home Occupation Permit. A Child Day Care Center, by contrast, is a standalone commercial or institutional use subject to the full conditional-use process, the IBC, and the state licensing deadline.
Violations & Fines
Section 14.02.040(6) makes any use contrary to the Conditional Use Permit unlawful, including operating a center before the permit is obtained or continuing after the required International Building Code, site-plan, or fencing conditions go unmet, and the City may enjoin that use. Section 14.02.070 lets the Planning Commission hold a hearing and modify or revoke the Conditional Use Permit outright if the center is 'materially altered or expanded beyond the scope of the use originally authorized' or a nuisance is found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does opening a child day care center in Provo require a special permit?
How is a Child Day Care Center's outdoor play area regulated?
How long does a Provo child care center have to get its state license?
Can Provo revoke a day care center's conditional use permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Provo
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Childcare Center Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle childcare center rules.