Idaho Falls, ID Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Childcare licensing in Idaho Falls changed in 2025. According to the city's Daycare Licensing FAQ (as of April 1, 2025), the adoption of Idaho House Bill No. 243a means the City of Idaho Falls no longer issues childcare licenses; the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW), working with IdahoSTARS, now handles all licensing for childcare facilities and providers. The city's former ordinance, Title 6, Chapter 3 (Day Care), was expected to be repealed on April 10, 2025. City-licensed facilities were directed to apply for a state license through IdahoSTARS before July 1, 2025. The city still has a role: it 'will continue to regulate zoning and land use,' and the Idaho Falls Fire Department provides fire code compliance inspections, with a fee set at $20.00. On the zoning side, the Zoning Code (Table 11-2-1) lists 'Day Care, Home' as a permitted use (P) in the R2, TN, R3, and R3A zones and as an administrative conditional use (C1) in the RE, RP, R1, and RMH zones; 'Day Care, Group' is also a conditional use in several zones and permitted in others. Section 11-2-6(L) allows a Day Care, Group or Day Care, Family Home in a residential zone to have one non-resident employee. For building purposes, the city-adopted 2018 IRC (Section 7-6-2(A)(4)) recognizes a care facility with 12 or fewer children receiving day care within a dwelling. Verify zoning and code compliance with Community Development Services, and obtain the state license from IDHW.