Williamson County, TN Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 11.04(D)(7)
- State license
- Required, e.g. TN Dept. of Human Services
- Minimum lot size
- 1 acre
- Play area setback
- 40 ft from side/rear lines
- Play area size
- 50 sq ft per child
- Max children (county definition)
- 5-7 unrelated, 12 total
- Fine per violation day
- $10 to $50
Summary
Running a family child care home in unincorporated Williamson County requires a state license, a minimum one-acre lot, and a fenced, setback play area. The Zoning Ordinance treats it as an accessory residential use under Section 11.04(D)(7), capped at 5 to 7 unrelated children under the state definition the county incorporates.
(7) Family Child Care Home
a) The applicant shall obtain a license(s) to operate the facility from all required Local, State, or Federal agency including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
b) All outside play areas must be fenced and be set back from side and rear property lines by a minimum of 40 feet. Play areas shall contain a minimum of 50 square feet per child.
c) The minimum lot area shall be one acre.
d) All refuse shall be contained in completely enclosed facilities and located to the rear of the buildings.
Full Breakdown
04(D)(7), Family Child Care Home. Before operating, the caregiver must obtain a license from every required local, state, or federal agency, naming the Tennessee Department of Human Services specifically. The property must carry a minimum lot area of one acre, larger than the ordinary residential accessory-use standard, because the use draws outside activity. Any outdoor play area has to be fenced and pulled back a minimum of 40 feet from both side and rear property lines, and must provide at least 50 square feet of play area per child enrolled.
Refuse generated by the operation must be kept in completely enclosed containers located to the rear of the buildings, not left visible from the street or neighboring yards. 04 definitions section caps a Family Child Care Home at five to seven children unrelated to the caregiver, with a hard ceiling of 12 total children present (including the caregiver's own), unless related children age nine or older occupy a separate space from the child care area. 04(D)(8), which carries the same one-acre, fencing, and refuse standards.
County zoning authority under this Ordinance extends only to the unincorporated area; the incorporated cities of Franklin, Brentwood, Fairview, Spring Hill, and Nolensville each enforce their own separate zoning codes for home-based child care within their limits, so a Cool Springs or Brentwood address inside city limits is not governed by this county provision.
Violations & Fines
Operating a family child care home without the required license, on an undersized lot, or without a compliant fenced play area is a zoning violation under Section 22.02, enforced by the Codes Compliance Director or Building Codes Director per Section 22.05. Any person violating the Ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, faces a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50 per offense under Section 22.07(A), citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 13-7-111. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, and paying the fine does not itself bring the property into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state license to run a home daycare in Williamson County?
How much land do I need to operate a family child care home?
How many children can I care for in my home?
Does this county rule apply inside Franklin or Brentwood?
What happens if I operate without meeting these standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Tennessee home business overview
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