Bloomfield, NJ Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Bloomfield Township treats a home daycare as a permitted accessory use rather than a discretionary one. Section 315-36(D)(8) of the Land Development and Zoning chapter says family day-care homes are permitted as accessory uses in all residential zones and the PO/R Zone. The code's definition of residential zones in § 315-6 lists the R-1A, R-1B, R-2A, R-2B, R-G, R-T, R-H, CORD and PO/R Districts, so the use is open across every one of them.

The definition of a family day-care home, also in § 315-6, sets the size boundary. It is any private residence approved by the Department of Children and Families, or an organization with which the division contracts for family day care, in which child-care services are regularly provided to no less than three and no more than five children for no less than 15 hours per week. Two groups of children are not counted toward the total: a child being cared for who is legally related to the provider, and a child cared for under a cooperative agreement between parents for the care of their children by one or more of the parents, where no payment for the care is being provided.

A larger operation is a different use. The code defines a child care center as an establishment providing care, supervision and protection of children that is licensed by the State of New Jersey, and § 315-37 permits child-care centers as uses in all nonresidential zones and the PO/R Zone. Section 315-52(A) requires a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer before any land or structure is used for a changed purpose, so the daycare operator should confirm the permit with the Township's zoning office before enrolling children.