Williamson County, TN Building Safety: Childcare Center Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- State/federal agency, chiefly TN Dept. of Human Services
- Minimum lot area
- 1 acre
- Play area setback
- 40 ft from side and rear lines
- Play area size
- 50 sq ft per child minimum
- Refuse
- Fully enclosed, kept to rear of building
- Group home signage
- One sign, up to 2 sq ft
Summary
Williamson County requires a Family or Group Child Care Home to hold a state license, most often from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, before operating. Outdoor play areas must be fenced and set back 40 feet from side and rear lines with at least 50 square feet per child, on a lot of at least one acre.
(7) Family Child Care Home a) The applicant shall obtain a license(s) to operate the facility from all required Local, State, or Federal agency including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Department of Human Services. b) All outside play areas must be fenced and be set back from side and rear property lines by a minimum of 40 feet. Play areas shall contain a minimum of 50 square feet per child. c) The minimum lot area shall be one acre. d) All refuse shall be contained in completely enclosed facilities and located to the rear of the buildings. (8) Group Child Care Homes a) The applicant shall obtain a license to operate the facility from all required Local, State, or Federal authority including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Department of Human Services. b) All outside areas must be fenced and be set back from side and rear property lines by a minimum of 40 feet. Play areas shall contain a minimum of 50 square feet per child. c) The minimum lot area shall be one acre. d) All refuse shall be contained in completely enclosed facilities and located to the rear of the buildings. e) One sign shall be permitted provided it does not exceed two square feet in sign area.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
04(D)(8) governs Group Child Care Homes as accessory uses in unincorporated Williamson County. Both require the operator to hold a license from the state or federal agency with jurisdiction, chiefly the Tennessee Department of Human Services, before the use can begin. Both set a one-acre minimum lot area, require outdoor play areas to be fenced and set back at least 40 feet from side and rear property lines, and require at least 50 square feet of play area per child. All refuse must be kept in completely enclosed facilities located to the rear of the buildings.
Group Child Care Homes carry one extra allowance: a single sign up to two square feet in area, which Family Child Care Homes do not get. 04(D)(6), sits on the same table but is a distinct provision: it caps enrollment at 100 children or adults, requires a two-acre minimum lot, forty-foot fenced play-area setbacks, enclosed rear-yard refuse, and bars the use from a parcel of record in a major subdivision or from an institutional structure that was originally a residence; it also requires the operator to demonstrate adequate wastewater capacity before approval.
Violations & Fines
Operating a Family or Group Child Care Home without the required license, or without meeting the setback, fencing, refuse-enclosure or lot-area standards, is a zoning violation under Section 22.03. The Codes Compliance Director investigates complaints filed with the Community Development Department and can revoke a Zoning Certificate under Section 22.06. Conviction is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of ten to fifty dollars under Section 22.07(A) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-7-111, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, separate from any licensing action the Tennessee Department of Human Services takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state license to run a home day care in Williamson County?
How much outdoor play space do I need per child?
What is the minimum lot size for a home child care use?
Can a Group Child Care Home put up a sign?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Tennessee building safety overview
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