Bulloch County, GA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 2 acres
- Spacing from another facility
- 1,000 feet, property line to property line
- Hours of operation
- 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Outdoor play area
- 50 sq ft/child, 6-ft fence
- Home day care exterior
- no signage, must look residential
Summary
In unincorporated Bulloch County, a residential or commercial day care needs a two-acre lot and cannot open within 1,000 feet of another day care. Hours are capped at 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and a home-based facility must look like an ordinary residence from the street.
Section 1418. - Day care facility, residential and commercial zones. (a)Minimum lot size of two acres.(b)No new establishment shall be located within 1,000 feet of an existing establishment measured across a straight line from property line to property line.(c)A buffer area and screening are required on side and rear lot lines.(d)Hours of operation are limited to 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., including all deliveries.(e)Outdoor play or passive recreation areas shall be provided in a rear or side yard consisting of 50 square feet per person, and shall be enclosed by a solid wall or fence at least six feet in height.(f)The facility shall provide adequate areas for the safe drop-off and pick-up of children in a driveway, turnaround or parking area. Specifically for residential zones: There is no external signage or other evidence of the use of the dwelling as other than a residential dwelling unit.
Full Breakdown
Section 1418 of the Zoning Ordinance (Appendix C) sets the standards for a day care facility in either a residential or commercial zone. The lot must be at least two acres, and no new facility can open within 1,000 feet of an existing one, measured property line to property line in a straight line. m. Outdoor play or passive recreation space must be provided in the rear or side yard at 50 square feet per child, enclosed by a solid wall or fence at least six feet high, and the site must provide an adequate driveway, turnaround or parking area for safe child drop-off and pick-up.
A day care operated out of a home in a residential zone has one extra rule: there can be no external signage or other outward evidence that the dwelling is being used for anything other than an ordinary residence. This section was retitled by the April 4, 2023 amendment (formerly covering only residential-zone day cares) and further amended August 1, 2023.
Violations & Fines
Operating a day care below the two-acre minimum, within 1,000 feet of another facility, outside the 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. hours, without the required outdoor play enclosure, or with exterior signage revealing a residential-zone home day care, is a Zoning Ordinance violation under Section 418, punishable per Section 1-11 of the county code with each day a separate offense, plus Section 419 injunctive relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a lot do I need for a home day care in unincorporated Bulloch County?
What hours can a Bulloch County day care operate?
Can I put up a sign for my home day care?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bulloch County
Compare Bulloch County to another location·View the Georgia home business overview
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