Meridian, ID Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Family daycare size
- 6 or fewer children
- Permit
- City accessory use permit required
- Operating hours
- 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Outdoor play area
- 6-ft nonscalable fence required
- Background checks
- Required under Idaho Code Title 39
Summary
Family child care for six or fewer kids counts as a home occupation accessory use in Meridian and needs a city accessory use permit plus compliance with noise, sign, and parking standards.
Additional standards for family daycare facilities conducted as home occupation accessory uses. 1. In no way shall the family daycare emit lighting, noise, fumes, smoke, dust, odors, vibrations, or electrical interference that can be observed outside the dwelling. A sign may be displayed for advertising the family daycare facility in accord with the standards set forth in subsection 11-3D-8.B of this title. 2. Off-street parking shall be provided as set forth in section 11-3C-6 of this title, in addition to the required off-street parking for the dwelling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Meridian's Unified Development Code classifies 'daycare, family' as care for six or fewer children and regulates it as a home occupation accessory use. Operators need an accessory use permit before starting, and in residential districts the operation may only run between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. unless a conditional use permit modifies that window. The daycare cannot emit noise, odors, lighting, or other nuisances detectable outside the dwelling, outdoor play areas need a six-foot nonscalable fence, and operators must provide proof of criminal background checks and fire inspection certificates under Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 11 before occupancy is certified.
Violations & Fines
Operating without an approved accessory use permit, exceeding the client cap, or running outside approved hours is a zoning code violation; the city can pursue code enforcement action and revoke the accessory use permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a home daycare in Meridian without a permit?
How many kids can a Meridian family daycare have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Meridian
Compare Meridian to another location·View the Idaho home business overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Home Daycare in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle home daycare.