Roswell, GA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Day care threshold
- 7 or more children under 18
- Outdoor play area
- 100 sq ft per child minimum
- Indoor space
- 35 sq ft per child minimum
- Play area fencing
- Minimum 4-foot fence required
- State licensing
- Also required by Georgia law
Summary
Roswell's UDC sets minimum outdoor play area, indoor space per child, and play-area fencing requirements for day care centers serving seven or more children, on top of state licensing.
C.Day Care Center.1.Defined. Any place operated by a person, society, agency, corporation, institution or group, and licensed or registered by the State of Georgia and licensed by the City of Roswell as a group day care home or day care center, where services are received for pay for group supervision and care, for fewer than 24 hours per day, for 7 or more children under 18 years of age.2.Use Standards. Where a day care is allowed as a conditional use, it may be permitted subject to Sec. 13.4., and the standards below. Where a day care is allowed as a limited use, it is subject to the following:a.A day care center must have at least 100 square feet of outdoor play area and at least 35 square feet of indoor space provided for each child served; andb.The outdoor play area must be enclosed by a fence with a minimum height of 4 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Roswell's UDC classifies day care centers, state-licensed facilities serving seven or more children under 18 for pay, for fewer than 24 hours a day, as a commercial use subject to city standards layered on top of Georgia licensing. Where permitted as a limited or conditional use, a day care center must provide at least 100 square feet of outdoor play area and 35 square feet of indoor space for every child served, and the outdoor play area must be enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet tall. Adult day care centers face a separate owner-occupancy requirement under the same section.
Violations & Fines
Falling short of the 100-sq-ft outdoor play area or 35-sq-ft indoor space per child, or lacking a compliant 4-foot fence around the play area, violates UDC Sec. 9.5.1(C)(2) and can block or revoke day care approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much outdoor play space does a Roswell, Georgia day care need?
Does the outdoor play area have to be fenced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
Compare Roswell to another location·View the Georgia building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.