Sedona, AZ Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential zoning status
- Conditional use permit required
- Permit process
- CUP under SLDC § 8.4.B
- By-right districts
- M2, M3, CO
- Accessory-only district
- CF
- Home occupation floor cap
- 25% of gross floor area
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor, SLDC § 1.7.A
Summary
A day care in Sedona, including one run from a house, is not a by-right home business. The Land Development Code's Table of Allowed Uses lists Day Care as a conditional use in every residential zoning district, from RS-70 through RM-3, so a family child care operation needs Planning and Zoning Commission approval before opening in a house.
(2) Uses Requiring a Conditional Use Permit A “C” in a cell indicates that the use is only permitted in the respective zoning district with approval of a conditional use permit pursuant to Section 8.4.B, Conditional Use Permit. ... | RS-70 | RS-35 | RS-18 | RS-10 | RS-6 | RMH | RM-1 | RM-2 | RM-3 | M1 | M2 | M3 | CO | IN | L | CF | OS | OC | " | ... | Day Care | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | P | P | P | | | A | | | |
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).
Full Breakdown
" The Day Care row in that table carries a "C" in RS-70, RS-35, RS-18, RS-10, RS-6, RMH, RM-1, RM-2 and RM-3, meaning every residential district in the city treats a day care, including one operated out of a home, as conditional rather than by-right. The same row shows Day Care permitted outright ("P") in the M2, M3 and CO commercial districts, and allowed only as an accessory use ("A") in the CF district; it is blank, and therefore prohibited, in IN, L, OS and OC.
Article 9's use definition covers any "facility that is licensed, certified, or registered by the state of Arizona that provides care, protection, and supervision for children or adults on a regular basis away from their primary residence for less than 24 hours per day," broad enough to reach a licensed family child care home. 1; a home-based operator still must clear the conditional use process through the Community Development Department before opening.
Violations & Fines
Operating a day care, including a home-based one, without the required conditional use permit is a violation of the Land Development Code. Under Section 1.7.A, a violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor; the City may instead pursue a civil citation under Section 1.7.B, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. The Zoning Administrator can also seek an injunction to stop the use under Section 1.7.C, and unpermitted operation is declared a public nuisance per se under Section 1.7.D.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a home day care in Sedona without a permit?
What counts as a Day Care use under Sedona's code?
Where can a day care operate by right in Sedona?
What happens if a day care operates without the required permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sedona
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