Sioux Falls, SD Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Neighbor petition
- 75% of owners within 250 ft
- Play area barrier
- Four-foot fence, wall, berm, or hedge
- Home-tier size
- Up to 6 children or adults
- Family-tier size
- 7 to 12 children or adults
- License
- State health dept license required first
Summary
Running a family day care in a Sioux Falls single-family home requires a zoning permit, a petition signed by 75% of nearby property owners, a fenced outdoor play area, and a state health department license.
(1) Family day care. A. A petition signed by 75% of property owners within 250 feet. B. Adequate outdoor play area(s) protected by a four-foot barrier such as a fence, wall, berm, or hedge. C. The zoning permit shall state that a health department license is required before the beginning of operation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Sioux Falls treats in-home child care as a 'permitted special' accessory use in single-family zoning forms such as DD3 (RT-1, RT-2 districts). Before opening, the operator must get a petition signed by 75% of property owners within 250 feet, install an outdoor play area behind a four-foot fence, wall, berm or hedge, and hold a state health department license before the zoning permit is issued. The code separately caps DAY CARE, HOME at up to six children/adults in a dwelling and DAY CARE, FAMILY at seven to twelve; anything larger must instead go through a full conditional use permit as a day care center.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required neighbor petition, fenced play area, health department license, or zoning permit is a zoning code violation, enforceable by the city's planning and building services department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my neighbors' approval to run a daycare from my house in Sioux Falls?
How many kids can I legally watch in my Sioux Falls home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
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