Stonecrest, GA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

Sec. 4.2.19 of the Stonecrest Zoning Ordinance governs both smaller child daycare facilities (up to six children) and larger child daycare centers (seven or more), including kindergartens and preschools operated as such. Before a City of Stonecrest business license issues, the operator must first obtain the necessary licensing from the State of Georgia, covering classroom area, play area and fencing requirements, and must comply with all state daycare standards for licensing and inspection. Each facility and center must provide off-street parking as required by its applicable zoning district, and centers specifically must provide an adequate on-site vehicle turnaround, addressing drop-off and pick-up traffic safety.

Where a daycare facility sits in a residential district, the zoning code requires its exterior appearance be maintained as a residential structure: no signs beyond what the district otherwise authorizes may be erected, and the code specifically bars cut-outs, animal characters, or other graphics affixed to the exterior or displayed on the premises, keeping daycares visually blended into the neighborhood. A separation standard also applies: no child daycare facility may be located within 1,000 feet of another child daycare facility, limiting clustering of these uses.

Additional approval criteria appear in Article 7 (Administration) of the same chapter, which the Planning and Zoning/Community Development Department applies during site plan and permit review.