Fort Smith, AR Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- conditional use permit
- Non-resident staff limit
- 1 employee
- Children served
- 6 to 12
- Parking
- on-site, paved only
Summary
Fort Smith requires a conditional use permit for home day cares serving six to 12 children, capping outside staff at one employee who must park on-site.
The term "day care home, six to 12 children," shall mean a child care service, licensed by the state, in a single-family home that is the full-time residence of the caregiver, which cares for a limited number of children who are apart from their own family during a part of the day.
These regulations shall apply to all day care homes:
1.Day care homes are limited to the zoning districts specified in this chapter.2.Day care homes require a conditional use permit in accordance with section 27-332.3.Day care homes shall be operated in a manner that will not change the character of the residence.4.Day care homes are permitted to have no more than one employee who does not reside at the home.5.All vehicles including the employee parking space must be parked on the property and on a paved parking space. All parking and paving must comply with section 14-52 of this Code.6.All pick-up and drop-off of children shall be on the property's driveway and not on the public right-of-way unless otherwise approved by the planning commission. (Code 1992, § 27-706)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Section 27-706 of the Unified Development Ordinance defines a 'day care home, six to 12 children' as a state-licensed child care service run out of a single-family home that is the caregiver's full-time residence. These homes are limited to the zoning districts specified in the chapter and require a conditional use permit under Section 27-332. Operation cannot change the residential character of the property, and no more than one non-resident employee may work there. All vehicles, including the employee's, must park on a paved on-site space, and children must be picked up and dropped off in the driveway, not the public right-of-way.
Violations & Fines
Operating a day care home without an approved conditional use permit, or exceeding the one-employee and on-site parking limits, is enforceable under the city's zoning and general penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home day care in Fort Smith?
Can I hire multiple employees for my home day care?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Smith
Compare Fort Smith to another location·View the Arkansas home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.