Spalding County, GA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)

Section 503(B) of the Spalding County Zoning Ordinance lists day care centers among the uses permitted in AR-1 districts only as a special exception, meaning the board of commissioners or board of appeals must approve the specific use under the criteria in Section 413 before it can operate, rather than the use being allowed by right. Two development standards attach to that special exception under Section 503(B)(2): the facility must comply with the rules promulgated by the Georgia Department of Human Resources where applicable, tying the county's zoning approval to the state's separate childcare licensing requirements rather than duplicating them, and a buffer, as defined and required under Section 405, must be provided along all side and rear property lines to screen the use from adjoining residential land.

AR-2 (rural reserve) property carries the same special-exception category by cross-reference to AR-1's use list in the county's district structure. The special exception process runs through Section 413: the applicant must hold at least 51 percent ownership of the property or written, notarized authorization from the owner, cannot be in violation of the zoning ordinance at the time of application, and the board must find the use will not be detrimental to adjacent properties or adversely affect neighborhood health and safety before granting approval. Because the standard cross-references the state's Department of Human Resources rules rather than restating them, an operator still needs the separate state childcare license in addition to the county's special exception and site buffer.