Suffolk, VA Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- 1-4 children
- Permit-exempt home occupation
- 5-12 children
- Zoning permit required
- State license
- Va. Dept. of Social Services
- Hours
- 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Play area
- 1,000 sq ft fenced
Summary
A Suffolk family day home for one to four children is a permit-exempt home occupation; caring for five to twelve children needs a zoning permit and Virginia Department of Social Services licensure under UDO Sec. 31-701.
Family day homes providing care for not fewer than five (5) but not more than twelve
(12) children under the age of thirteen (13), exclusive of the provider's own children and any children who reside in the home, where permitted pursuant to Section 31-406 of this Ordinance, shall not be established except in accordance with the following criteria:
A. Each family day home shall be located within a single-family detached structure.
B. Hours of operation. Family day homes shall be limited to operation between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
C. Indoor space. Family day homes shall comply with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association recommendation to provide thirty-five (35) square feet of indoor space per child which is free of furniture and equipment, or fifty (50) square feet of space if furniture and equipment are included.
D. Fenced play areas. A fenced play area of not less than one thousand (1,000) square feet shall be provided. Such play areas shall be so located as to provide maximum peace and tranquility to adjoining residential uses and to protect the safety of the children. Outdoor play activities on the premises shall be conducted within the fenced play area, and such activities shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
E. Traffic. The additional traffic generated by a family day home, excluding trips associated with the dwelling unit, shall not exceed twenty-four (24) vehicle round trips per
Full Breakdown
Suffolk splits home child care by size. Under Section 31-707(e), a family day home caring for one to four children is treated as an exempt home occupation, subject to the general standards but needing no home occupation permit. Section 31-701(b)(18) governs a family day home for five to twelve children under age 13: it must be a single-family detached home, operate only between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., provide a fenced play area of at least 1,000 square feet, keep added traffic under 24 vehicle round trips per day, obtain a zoning permit, and acquire and maintain licensure from the Virginia Department of Social Services.
Violations & Fines
Running a five-to-twelve-child family day home without a zoning permit or a valid Virginia Department of Social Services license, or refusing a Suffolk fire marshal inspection, is willful noncompliance enforced as a zoning violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Suffolk
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