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

020(35)-(36): a Child Day Care Facility, Type A, is a dwelling unit where a provider cares for 12 or fewer children for less than 24 hours a day, which covers most in-home day cares; 13 or more children, or any facility in a building other than a dwelling, is a Type B facility that needs a conditional use permit instead. 050(a). 050(b): it needs state child-care licensing approval, must comply with Benton-Franklin District Health Department and water/sewer provider requirements, and is limited to one non-illuminating sign of no more than 4 square feet, mounted no higher than 6 feet, with no on-street or sightline-blocking placement.

The outdoor play area must be fenced to at least 4 feet high, one parking space is required per employee plus a loading/unloading area, and the facility must keep the residential character of the neighborhood. Before approval, the county mails notice to every property owner within 300 feet of the site; neighbors get 14 calendar days to appeal to the Planning Administrator before the registration is deemed approved. A registration can be revoked if the county finds the operator out of compliance, with day care activity required to stop within 20 days of a final revocation unless an appeal is pending.