Caring for more than four unrelated children in a Douglas County home requires a family child care home license from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. A state-licensed home daycare is generally permitted as a residential use, subject to local zoning standards.
Colorado licenses home-based child care through the Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). A home caring for more than four children who are unrelated to each other, on a regular basis, must obtain a family child care home license; license-exempt care is capped at four unrelated children with no more than two under age 2. Licensing covers ratios, health and safety, background checks, and inspections. In unincorporated Douglas County, a state-licensed home daycare is treated as a residential accessory use under the Zoning Resolution, and larger programs may need a Class 2 home occupation or use permit. Castle Rock, Parker, and Lone Tree apply their own zoning to home daycares.
Operating an unlicensed home daycare above the exemption threshold violates state licensing law and can result in CDEC enforcement, fines, and closure, in addition to any county zoning action.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Douglas County, CO
Douglas County and its towns allow residential backyard composting; there is no permit. Keep piles or bins maintained so they do not create odor, pests, or a...
Douglas County, CO
Douglas County and its towns have no ordinance banning artificial turf on private residential yards. Colorado law even bars HOAs from prohibiting nonvegetati...
Douglas County, CO
Colorado encourages xeriscape and native landscaping, and state law bars HOAs from banning xeriscape or drought-tolerant plants on yards a homeowner maintain...
Douglas County, CO
Colorado law lets residents at single-family or small multifamily homes collect rooftop rainwater in up to two rain barrels holding 110 gallons combined, use...
Douglas County, CO
Colorado has no statewide homeowner watering ban; your water provider sets the schedule. Castle Rock Water allows outdoor watering every third day before 8 a...
Douglas County, CO
Colorado's Noxious Weed Act requires all landowners to control noxious weeds. Douglas County enforces the Act on unincorporated land; Castle Rock adds a 12-i...
See how Douglas County's home daycare rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.