Stedman, NC Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 4.3
- Minimum lot size
- 20,000 sq ft (residential districts)
- Setbacks
- 30 ft front/corner, 35 ft rear, 20 ft side
- Play-yard fence
- 4 ft min, gaps under 4 inches
- Fence safety standard
- N.C. Bldg Code § R312.2 (2006)
- Parking
- 2 spaces + 1 per employee, min
Summary
In the Town of Stedman, North Carolina, a day care facility sited in a residential district must meet Zoning Ordinance § 4.3's 20,000-square-foot lot minimum, numeric setbacks and thoroughfare access, plus a four-foot fenced play yard built to the N.C. Building Code's guard-opening spacing limit.
(a) For day care facilities located within a residential zoning district, the following provisions must be complied with: (1) Minimum lot size shall be: 20,000 square feet. (2) The required minimum setbacks shall be as follows: a. Front yard: 30 feet from any public or private street; b. Rear yard setback minimum: 35 feet; c. Side yard setbacks: 20 feet; and d. Corner lots shall provide a minimum of 30 feet from both streets; (3) Subject property must abut and have direct access to a major or minor thoroughfare or higher street classification, as identified in the Highway Plan, for all day care facilities located in residential districts. ... (e) All children's outside play areas shall be enclosed with at least a four-foot high fence and located only within the side and/or rear yards, provided the yards are not adjacent to a street. The horizontal/vertical spacing in the fence shall be a maximum of four inches and at minimum the fence must comply with the guard opening limitations for spacing established in the N.C. BLDG CODE §R312.2 (2006).
Full Breakdown
3(a) sets out the siting package a residential-district site must satisfy. The minimum lot size is 20,000 square feet. Setbacks are fixed at 30 feet from any public or private street for the front yard, 35 feet minimum for the rear yard, 20 feet for side yards, and 30 feet from both streets on a corner lot. The property must also abut and have direct access to a major or minor thoroughfare, or a higher classification identified on the town's Highway Plan, a requirement written specifically for day care facilities in residential districts so that drop-off and pickup traffic does not route through purely local streets.
3(b). Parking is set at a minimum of two paved off-street spaces plus one per employee, with a paved driveway sized for at least two vehicles loading or unloading passengers at once, on top of the parking itself. 2 (2006 edition).
Violations & Fines
Operating a day care facility in a residential district without meeting the § 4.3 lot size, setback, access, parking or fenced-play-area requirements is a zoning violation. Under § 12.342 that is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $50 or up to 30 days' imprisonment, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, and the Town may pursue an order under § 12.341 to correct or abate the condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a lot does a day care center need in Stedman?
What fence does a day care outdoor play area need in Stedman?
Does a day care center need direct access to a main road in Stedman?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stedman
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Childcare Center Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle childcare center rules.