A day care center in unincorporated Hamilton County needs a special permit approved by the county, with a site plan, county-approved access, a secured playground, and the neighborhood's residential character maintained. Small home childcare is also licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Under Article VI, Section 419 of the Hamilton County Zoning Regulations, a day care center in a district where it is not permitted by right requires a special permit granted by Hamilton County, conditioned on a submitted site plan showing buildings, playground, driveways and parking; review and approval of ingress/egress and circulation by the County Engineer; installation of a secured playground; and maintenance of the neighborhood's residential character. Separately, Tennessee licenses child-care agencies through the Department of Human Services (Tenn. Code Ann. Title 71, Ch. 3), including small family homes caring for several children.
Operating a day care above the allowed size without the required special permit or state license is a zoning and licensing violation subject to enforcement, fines, and closure.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Hamilton County's home daycare rules stack up against other locations.
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