Jacksonville Beach, FL Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Jacksonville Beach defines a family day care home in the definitions section of its Land Development Code (Sec. 34-300) as an occupied residence in which child care is regularly provided for children and which receives a payment, fee, or grant for any of the children receiving care, whether or not operated for profit. The definition then fixes who can be in care, in three groups, and a home is allowed to provide care for only one of them.

Under the first group, a home can care for a maximum of five preschool children from more than one unrelated family and a maximum of five elementary school siblings of the preschool children in care after school hours. The five-preschooler count includes preschool children in the home and preschool children received for day care who are not related to the resident caregiver. The total number of children in the home cannot exceed ten.

The second group applies when the home is licensed and provisions are made for substitute care. It allows a maximum of five preschool children from more than one unrelated family, a maximum of three elementary school siblings of the preschool children after school hours, and a maximum of two elementary school children unrelated to the preschool children after school hours. The total again cannot exceed ten.

The third group also requires a licensed home with provisions for substitute care. It allows a maximum of seven elementary school children from more than one unrelated family in care after school hours. Preschool children cannot be in care in the home, and the total number of elementary school children cannot exceed seven.

On zoning, the RS-1, RS-2 and RS-3 district sections (Secs. 34-611, 34-612 and 34-613) each list family day care homes, per F.S. § 166.0445, among the uses permitted as of right. Section 34-718 is a different rule for a different use: it covers day nurseries, kindergartens and child care centers, and it requires proof of state licensure, a minimum lot area of 7,500 square feet (with an exception for lots of record platted before the LDC), and a fenced outdoor play area in the rear yard. It does not mention family day care homes.