Loveland, CO Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Loveland UDC Title 18, Division 18.02.06 (Business Use of the Home) covers three uses: home occupations, medical marijuana caregivers, and home child care. Home child care is permitted in every residential zoning district as an accessory use to the dwelling. Colorado House Bill 21-1222 (effective 2021, codified at CRS 26-6-104 and other sections) preempts local zoning restrictions that would treat a licensed family child care home (FCCH) differently from any other residential use - the FCCH must be allowed in any zone that permits single-family residential use, with no special-use permit, no conditional-use permit, and no public hearing required solely because of the child-care use. Local zoning may still apply normal residential standards (setbacks, parking, building code) but cannot single out family child care for additional discretionary review. Capacity is set by Colorado state licensing rules at 8 CCR 1402-1 (Rules Regulating Family Child Care Homes), administered by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA). The regular FCCH license typically authorizes care for up to 6 children under age 12 in the operator's residence (with limits such as no more than 2 children under 2 years, including the operator's own children), or up to 12 children under an experienced/expanded license with additional staff and qualifications. The license requires: a fingerprint-based criminal background check on the operator and all household members 18+; a state-approved orientation and pre-licensure training; first aid, CPR, universal precautions, and medication administration training; documented health appraisals; and an initial and annual home health-and-safety inspection by DELLA. Application fees vary by license type; the CDEC fee schedule applies. Local Loveland UDC Division 18.02.06 home-child-care standards add residential-character, parking, and signage requirements (no off-premises traffic congestion, no off-site nuisance from child noise during reasonable daytime hours, no commercial signage beyond a small identification placard). Larimer County Public Health may inspect for environmental health compliance. Drop-off and pick-up traffic patterns should be managed to minimize neighborhood disruption.