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

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

Key Facts

Child limit
6 or fewer children
License
Louisiana child-care license required
Zones
A, RS, RM, MN + unincorporated parish
Floor-area cap
Exempt from 10% home-business limit
Process
Home Occupation Affidavit at C.O. filing

Summary

A state-licensed home daycare serving six or fewer children is a permitted home occupation in Lafayette Parish's residential zoning districts, both inside Lafayette city and in the unincorporated parish, exempt from the usual floor-area cap.

City-specific rules exist: Lafayette has its own home daycare rules that differ from Lafayette Parish's county-level regulations. If you live in Lafayette, check the city-specific page instead.

(2)Any home occupation in the unincorporated areas of Lafayette Parish listed as a permitted [P] use in Table 89-83-1 below...(2)Uses allowed as a principal or accessory use in the applicable district in the Use Table (§ 89-21), other than residential child care facilities, are not subject to the requirements of this section...Home occupations, with the exception of residential child-care facilities, may occupy up to ten percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).

Full Breakdown

Table 89-83-1 lists "child care facility, residential" as a permitted [P] home occupation in the A, RS, RM and MN districts and in the unincorporated parish. Unlike most home-occupation uses, it stays subject to Sec. 89-83's standards -- confined to the dwelling, operator must live on site, signage limited to one square foot -- but is the single use exempted from the section's 10 percent gross-floor-area cap. It must carry a Louisiana child-care license and serve six children or fewer (Sec. 89-21). Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott, Youngsville and Milton run their own separate codes.

Violations & Fines

Operating without the required Louisiana child-care license, exceeding six children, or an operator who doesn't reside on site forfeits the permitted-use status and exposes the home to zoning enforcement and certificate-of-occupancy revocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to run a home daycare in Lafayette Parish?
No separate permit -- it's a permitted home occupation, but you file a Home Occupation Affidavit with your certificate-of-occupancy application and must hold a Louisiana child-care license.
Does this rule cover the unincorporated parish, not just Lafayette city?
Yes -- Table 89-83-1 lists it as a permitted use in the unincorporated parish as well as the A, RS, RM and MN zoning districts wherever mapped.
How many children can a home daycare serve?
Six or fewer under the "child care facility, residential" definition; serving more requires licensing as a commercial child care facility instead.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lafayette Parish

All Lafayette Parish rules

Compare Lafayette Parish to another location·View the Louisiana home business overview

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