Troup County, GA Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)

UDO § 7.8(1)(a) requires any day care facility, other than an adult day care center, to provide an outdoor play area meeting the size, location, and fencing requirements for playgrounds set by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning under O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-1 et seq. Under § 7.8(1)(b), operators must file an application with the county, including a program description and a certification that the facility will meet all state, federal, and local requirements; the Community Development Director may request more information, and a Certificate of Occupancy cannot issue until the applicant provides proof of state registration or authorization.

Day care facilities must hold a county business license, permits are non-transferable, and no facility may locate within 1,000 feet of any other day care facility. Where a day care operates out of a single-family home as a home occupation, § 7.8(1)(c) adds stricter limits: no business license until the Georgia Department of Human Services issues a state license, no more than six children, sufficient driveway space so no car backs into a public road, and operating hours confined to 6:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m.

Larger day care uses accessory to schools or places of worship under §§ 7.8(2)-(3) face separate frontage, setback, and buffer standards, including a 30-foot landscaped buffer along residential property lines for schools.