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Acworth, GA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 73-7.8.3(B)(7)
State certification
Georgia Dept. of Human Resources, required
Capacity formula
1 child per 250 sq. ft.
Max children
8 (excluding proprietor's own)
Floor space cap
25% of dwelling for the occupation
Renewal requirement
Annual state re-certification filed with City

Summary

A family day care run out of an Acworth home needs Georgia Department of Human Resources certification before the city issues a business license, and again with every Special Use Permit application. The zoning code caps enrollment at one child per 250 square feet of the residence, with an eight-child ceiling not counting the operator's own kids.

7.Family day care facilities must be certified by Georgia Department of Human Resources prior to the issuance of a business license and must accompany all applications for a Special Use Permit. The number of children allowed by this ordinance shall be calculated at one child per 250 gross square feet of the residence with a maximum of eight (excluding those of the proprietor). The annual renewed certification from the Georgia Department of Human Resources shall be provided to the City upon renewal of the Home Occupational license.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).

Full Breakdown

3(B)(7) of the Zoning Ordinance. Before the City will issue a business license, the operator must hold certification from the Georgia Department of Human Resources, and that certification must also accompany any Special Use Permit application the facility needs. The ordinance sets its own capacity formula rather than deferring entirely to the state: one child per 250 gross square feet of the residence, up to a maximum of eight children, not counting the proprietor's own. The annual renewal of the state certification has to be provided to the City each time the Home Occupational license comes up for renewal, tying the local license directly to the state's ongoing oversight.

3 framework built around every home business: no more than 25 percent of the dwelling's floor space, including attached or detached garages, can be used for the activity; there can be no exterior sign of the business or alteration that makes the home look less residential; off-site employees can't work at the residence; and the operation is subject to periodic inspections. 3(C).

Violations & Fines

Operating a home day care without current Georgia Department of Human Resources certification, over the eight-child cap, or beyond the 25 percent floor-space limit voids the underlying Home Occupational license and is a Zoning Ordinance violation under Section 73-10.2: the Development Director can issue a notice of violation, and continued operation carries civil penalties up to $1,000.00 per day or a criminal fine up to $1,000.00 and 60 days in jail under Section 73-10.2.4.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a state certification to run a home day care in Acworth?
Yes. Section 73-7.8.3(B)(7) requires Georgia Department of Human Resources certification before the City issues a business license, and the certification must accompany any Special Use Permit application and be renewed annually with the City.
How many children can a home day care in Acworth have?
The zoning code calculates capacity at one child per 250 gross square feet of the residence, with a hard maximum of eight children not counting the operator's own, under Section 73-7.8.3(B)(7).
What other home-occupation rules apply to a home day care?
As a home occupation, it can use no more than 25 percent of the dwelling's floor space, cannot alter the home's residential appearance, cannot employ off-site workers at the residence, and is subject to periodic inspections under the general Section 73-7.8.3 standards.

Sources & Official References

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