Home child care in North Carolina is licensed by the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education under NC Gen Stat Sec 110-101 et seq. Family Child Care Homes (up to 5 children) and Child Care Homes (6-8 with regulation) require state licensure. Raleigh UDO Sec 6.7 treats licensed family child care as a permitted home occupation by right in all residential districts.
North Carolina regulates home-based child care under Chapter 110, Article 7 of the General Statutes (NC Gen Stat Sec 110-85 through 110-111), administered by the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). Two home-based categories exist: a Family Child Care Home serves up to 5 children (including the provider's own children under 5) and a Child Care Home serves 6 to 8 children with enhanced regulations. Both require state licensure. Application includes a home inspection by DCDEE, fire and sanitation inspections, criminal background check of the provider and all household members 15 and older, CPR/First Aid certification, completion of the NC Early Care and Education course, and a $100 annual fee. Raleigh UDO Sec 6.7.3 explicitly permits licensed family child care homes as a home occupation by right in all residential districts, and they are exempt from the 4-customer-per-day limit that applies to other home occupations. Drop-off and pick-up traffic is expected and allowed within reasonable daytime hours. Exterior signage remains prohibited beyond the standard 1-square-foot professional nameplate. Outdoor play areas must comply with UDO setback requirements for accessory uses (typically 5 feet from side/rear property lines) and any pool on site must meet UDO 6.7.5 enclosure standards and state child care pool rules. Raleigh Fire Department conducts a separate inspection for homes serving 6 or more children to verify smoke alarms, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, and unobstructed exits. Violations of state licensure result in DCDEE enforcement, not city action.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Raleigh code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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