Pima County, AZ Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Pima County Code § 18.09.030(B)
- Max capacity
- 10 children or adults per home
- Larger homes (7-10)
- Zoning approval + 300-ft owner notice
- Vehicles allowed
- Up to two, vs. one standard
- Outdoor play screening
- 5-ft opaque fence within 25 ft of neighbors
- Per-lot limit
- One child/adult care home per lot
- State licensing
- Required; proof given to county
Summary
A licensed child care home in unincorporated Pima County is a home occupation under Pima County Code § 18.09.030(B): it can serve up to ten children, but homes caring for seven to ten kids or using more than one extra employee need zoning-inspector approval, neighbor notice, and proof of state licensing before opening.
B. Child care home service and adult care home service conditions. A child care home service or adult care home service shall meet all of the conditions of subsection A of this section, except as modified as follows: 1. Child care home services or adult care home services shall be provided for no more than ten persons. 2. During the hours of activity of the child care or adult care use, the total amount of floor area of the dwelling and outdoor areas and equipment may be devoted to the use. 3. No more than two vehicles may be used in conjunction with the use. The vehicles must meet the requirements for a vehicle used in conjunction with a home occupation use. 4. For services providing care and supervision for seven to ten persons, or when additional employees up to a maximum of four, beyond the one allowed under Section 18.09.030(A) are required, the following additional requirements shall be met: a. The applicant shall apply to the office of the zoning inspector for approval.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
030(B). 030(A): a home occupation permit from the chief zoning inspector, no exterior display, and no use that isn't customarily accessory to a residence. Subsection (B) then modifies those standards specifically for child care and adult care homes. A child care home service may serve no more than ten persons total. While children are present, the whole dwelling and its outdoor areas and equipment, not just one-quarter of the floor area as regular home occupations are capped at, may be devoted to the use. Up to two vehicles, rather than the standard one, may be used in connection with the service.
030(B)(4) requires a separate zoning approval: a written application to the zoning inspector with a site plan, legal description, assessor's map of properties within 300 feet, proof of ownership, and the board of adjustment's standard hearing fee. Outdoor play areas within 25 feet of an adjacent residential use must be screened by an opaque five-foot fence or wall, and only one child or adult care home service is allowed per lot. The zoning inspector mails notice to owners within 300 feet; if a written protest arrives within 15 days, the board of adjustment hears the case, otherwise the inspector may issue the permit after the 15-day window closes.
Every provider must also hold the required Arizona license or certification and give Pima County proof of it before or when zoning approval is completed.
Violations & Fines
Running a child care home without the required home occupation permit, exceeding the ten-child cap, or skipping the zoning-inspector approval and neighbor notice required for seven-to-ten-child homes is a zoning violation. The zoning inspector investigates under § 18.95.030, and a hearing officer's finding of violation triggers civil penalties under § 18.95.040 of up to $750 per day for an individual, or $10,000 per day for a business entity, plus possible board of supervisors or county attorney injunctive action to shut the use down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children can I legally care for in my Pima County home?
Will my neighbors be notified if I open a larger home daycare?
Does the county care if I'm licensed by the state?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pima County
Compare Pima County to another location·View the Arizona home business overview
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