Ames, IA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Sec. 29.1304A treats home-based child day care as its own use category, separate from the general Home Occupation rules in Sec. 29.1304 and from commercial Day Care Centers, which are not covered by this section at all. A day care operating inside a dwelling unit where a primary resident works as an employee needs no City permit as long as its State of Iowa license is a Type A (up to six children) or a Type C with one adult present (up to eight children).

Anything larger, a Type B license, a Type C with two adults, or any other configuration, instead requires a Special Use Permit under Sec. 29.1503, reviewed against the criteria in Sec. 29.1503(5). The section also sets a space standard: a Family Day Care home may use the entire dwelling, kitchen, bathrooms, napping rooms and play areas included, but total capacity cannot exceed one child per 35 square feet of the dwelling, excluding baths, hallways, closets, kitchens and dining areas unless the dining area is actually used for day care activities.

On-site parking must meet the Zoning Ordinance's minimum standards, and for any day care requiring a Special Use Permit, the Zoning Board of Adjustment reviews proposed drop-off, pick-up and parking arrangements for compatibility with the surrounding area under Sec. 29.1503. Additional criteria apply in multifamily buildings, including a dedicated outdoor play area or nearby park access and reserved guest parking, plus the building owner's written consent to the operation.