Richardson, TX Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

The city's Article III on registered family homes defines a registered family home as a private residence permitted to regularly care for children, and Section 10-54 makes the operator responsible for all zoning, building, fire and health ordinances before a permit issues. Section 10-55 sets the numeric ceiling: no more than six children under 14, including the caregiver's own, during school hours, rising to eight after school when up to two additional elementary-age siblings join, with a chart in the ordinance breaking down exactly how many infants, toddlers and school-age children can be mixed at each headcount.

Anyone wanting to care for nine to 12 children must apply to the city council for a special permit under Section 10-67(c); the council holds a public hearing after mailing notice to every property owner within 200 feet. A standard permit application goes to the director of health under Section 10-67(a)-(b) and requires an annual, nonrefundable fee set in the Master Fee Schedule under Section 10-68. Permits must be displayed on the premises per Section 10-70, are personal to the holder and cannot be transferred to a new location or owner under Section 10-71, and grant no vested right to keep operating under future ordinance changes per Section 10-69.

The director of health inspects every registered family home at least once a year and can visit at any other reasonable time under Section 10-53, checking sanitation, toilet facilities, food handling, chemical storage and outdoor play hazards.