Bothell, WA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning status
- Permitted (P) in every zone column of the residential use table
- State license
- Required under Chapter 74.15 RCW
- Size limit
- Not more than 12 children in the provider's home
- Passenger loading
- Licensor certifies a safe loading area if necessary
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days, each day separate
Summary
In the City of Bothell, Washington, family day care is a permitted use under BMC 12.06.140, but only with a state license under Chapter 74.15 RCW. The home must meet building, fire, safety, health and city licensing rules plus the dimensional standards of its zone, and the code defines the use as care for not more than 12 children in the provider's home.
7. Family day care is a permitted use, subject to obtaining a state license in accordance with Chapter 74.15 RCW and the following: a. Compliance with all building, fire, safety, health code, and city licensing requirements; b. Conformance to lot size, setbacks, building coverage, hard surface coverage, and other design and dimensional standards of the zoning classification in which the home is located; c. Certification by the office of child care policy licensor that a safe passenger loading area, if necessary, is provided.
Full Breakdown
Bothell treats family day care as a residential use. The residential use table in BMC 12.06.140 marks it permitted (P) in every zone column, from R-C and R-L1/RL2 through the multifamily zones, the office and commercial zones, and LI. Permitted does not mean unconditioned. Condition 7 opens with the state license requirement (Chapter 74.15 RCW) and then adds three conditions.
First, the home must comply with all building, fire, safety, health code, and city licensing requirements. Second, it must conform to the lot size, setbacks, building coverage, hard surface coverage, and other design and dimensional standards of the zoning classification in which the home is located, so a day care provider gets no exemption from the yard and coverage limits that apply to the neighbors. Third, if a safe passenger loading area is necessary, the office of child care policy licensor must certify that one is provided.
The city's definitions set the scope. Family day care means a state-licensed day care provider, as defined in RCW 74.15.020, who regularly provides day care for not more than 12 children in the provider's home in the family living quarters. The separate definition of day care covers the provision of human services including meals, recreation, education and socialization to children and/or adults for a part of the day. Day care centers that are not run from a home have their own rules in BMC 12.06.100, and note 1 of that section sends family day care, adult family homes and other residential-in-nature services back to BMC 12.06.140.
Violations & Fines
Running a family day care that fails the conditions of BMC 12.06.140(B)(7) is a violation of the City of Bothell zoning code. Under BMC 1.24.010, unless another ordinance prescribes a different punishment, a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000, imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both. Under BMC 1.24.020 each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and administrative and civil remedies stay available in addition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a family day care in Bothell need a conditional use permit?
How many children can a Bothell family day care home serve?
Do setbacks and lot coverage limits apply to a day care home in Bothell?
Is a drop-off area required for a home day care in Bothell?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bothell
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