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Gresham, OR Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Registered homes
up to 10 children
Certified homes
up to 16 children
Provider requirement
must be home's resident
Zoning status
accessory residential use
Commercial review
not required if within limits

Summary

Registered (up to 10 kids) and certified (up to 16 kids) family child care homes run by a resident are an accessory residential use in Gresham, not a commercial land use requiring development review.

D. Exceptions. 1. Registered and certified family child care homes are accessory to an existing residential use. 2. Care provided by babysitters, parents, guardians, or relatives. These uses are not regulated by the Development Code. 3. Public and private educational facilities are Schools. 4. Residential Facilities. 5. Residential Homes. 6. Senior centers are Community Services.

Full Breakdown

Gresham's Development Code treats a home daycare run by the resident of a house, duplex, triplex, quadplex, townhouse, or cottage cluster as an accessory use of that dwelling (Section 3.0211 et seq.), not as the commercial "Daycare Facilities" classification. Section 3.0235.D carves registered and certified family child care homes out of that commercial category entirely, so no site development review or commercial permit applies. Babysitting by parents, guardians, or relatives is likewise unregulated by the code.

Violations & Fines

Care homes exceeding registered/certified state limits, or unregistered setups serving three or more children, are classified as commercial Daycare Facilities requiring site development review: operating without that approval in a residential district is a zoning code violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a commercial permit to run a home daycare in Gresham?
No. A state-registered (up to 10 kids) or certified (up to 16 kids) family child care home run by the resident is an accessory residential use, exempt from the commercial Daycare Facilities review.
What happens if I care for more children than my registration allows?
The operation falls under Section 3.0235's commercial Daycare Facilities classification, which requires site development review rather than qualifying for the residential accessory-use exception.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Gresham

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Home Daycare in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Multnomah County handle home daycare.

Portland, OR
Few Restrictions