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Ascension Parish, LA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

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

Key Facts

Pupil cap
6 pupils at a given time
Zoning reach
permitted in any parish district
Floor area cap
20% of building, max 750 sq ft
Extra on-site staff allowed
up to 2 additional employees
Governing section
UDC § 17-2048.B.5

Summary

Ascension Parish allows teaching, music instruction and day care as customary home occupations in any zoning district, but caps day care specifically at six pupils at a given time, on top of the general home-occupation conditions on floor area, employees and outside signage.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Ascension Parish. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A.A customary home occupation is a business or profession carried on by an occupant of a dwelling as a secondary use which is clearly incidental to the main residential use. ... B.The following occupations, subject to the requirements of the previous subdivision, are permitted as customary home occupations: ... 5.Teaching, musical instruction and day care limited to six pupils at a given time.

Full Breakdown

5 names 'Teaching, musical instruction and day care limited to six pupils at a given time' as one of the enumerated uses allowed as-of-right in any district, subject to the general conditions in subsection A. Those general conditions require the occupation be run by residents plus no more than two additional on-site employees, be conducted entirely within the principal building or an accessory structure out of sight of neighbors, use no more than 20 percent of the principal building's floor area (capped at 750 square feet), and produce no exterior change to the dwelling's appearance.

A home daycare that exceeds six children at one time, or that otherwise fails the general home-occupation conditions such as operating from a detached, visible structure or exceeding the floor-area cap, no longer qualifies for the development-permit exemption and would need to seek a use interpretation or a different permitted-use pathway from the Zoning Official. Because day care intersects with state licensing, a provider operating in the parish must also separately satisfy Louisiana's day care licensing requirements administered outside this local ordinance; the six-pupil figure here is strictly the parish's zoning cap, not a state licensing capacity limit.

Violations & Fines

Operating a home day care with more than six pupils present at one time, or otherwise failing to meet the home-occupation conditions of Section 17-2048, is a violation of the Unified Land Development Code under Section 17-2090(W)(1), carrying a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many children can I care for in a home daycare in Ascension Parish?
Section 17-2048.B.5 of the Unified Land Development Code caps a home occupation day care at six pupils at a given time. Exceeding that number takes the daycare outside the parish's home-occupation exemption from a development permit.
Do I need a zoning permit to run a small home daycare?
No separate development permit is required if the daycare qualifies as a customary home occupation under Section 17-2048, meaning six or fewer pupils at a time, run within the dwelling or an accessory structure, using no more than 20 percent of the building's floor area up to 750 square feet.
Can I run a home daycare in any zoning district in the parish?
Yes. Section 17-2048.A states 'a home occupation may be operated in any district within the parish,' and day care limited to six pupils is specifically listed in subsection B.5 as a permitted customary home occupation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Ascension Parish

All Ascension Parish rules

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