Saint Paul, MN Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Sec. 222 of the Saint Paul Zoning Code sets the standards and conditions that apply specifically to child care centers as a land use, distinct from the smaller-scale family day care and group family day care categories it also defines. A child care center is defined as a day care program licensed by the state or the city, covering nursery schools, day nurseries, play groups, school-age day care, after-school programs, infant day care, cooperative day care, preschool and Head Start programs. Under the standards and conditions in Sec.

222, a child care center located in an RL-H1 residential district must be sited in a nonresidential structure currently or formerly occupied by a church, community center, school or similar facility -- it cannot simply be a home converted for the purpose; in industrial districts, a child care center is only allowed as accessory to an already-permitted principal use in that district, not as a standalone use. 5 feet in height, a physical-safety standard aimed at keeping children in outdoor play areas away from street traffic and sightlines.

These standards sit within the same part of the zoning code that separately caps family day care at 10 children and group family day care at 14 children (no more than 10 under school age), both of which require county licensing as a home-based day care rather than a standalone center, with the licensed capacity counting all of the caregiver's own children present in the residence.