Benton County, OR Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

105(4) lists 'Day care for fewer than 13 children' as a permitted outright use in the Rural Residential (RR) zone, the primary zoning designation across the unincorporated county outside Corvallis, Philomath, Adair Village and Monroe's city limits. 010(11)): a home-based provider caring for up to 12 children needs no land use approval beyond whatever siting standards (BCC Chapter 99) already govern the property. Once a facility crosses the 13-child line it becomes a 'Day care center' and shifts from permitted-outright to conditional use. 205(7)). A conditional use permit application is reviewed under the general review criteria of BCC Chapter 53, and the Planning Official can attach conditions covering parking, traffic, hours or screening before a larger center may open.

Because the Development Code ties the distinction to a headcount rather than to licensing status, a home operator planning to grow past 12 children should apply for the conditional use permit before expanding, not after. The rule applies only inside unincorporated Benton County; Corvallis, Philomath, Adair Village and Monroe apply their own municipal zoning to day care uses within city limits.