Maricopa County, AZ Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Max children
- 4 under compensated care
- Operator residency
- Must live in the home
- Outdoor space
- 75 sq ft per child, enclosed
- Pickup/drop-off curfew
- None 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
- Zoning status
- Permitted, all residential districts
Summary
In unincorporated Maricopa County, a home daycare for up to four children is a by-right use in every residential zoning district, but only if it meets seven operating conditions in the zoning code.
1. The owner/operator of the daycare shall reside in the dwelling unit in which the daycare operates. 2. The rear and/or side yard is enclosed and provides a minimum of 75 sq. ft. per each child occupying the outdoor activity area. ... 4. The total number of children under compensated care shall not exceed four (4) at any one time. ... 7. No pick-up or drop off of children shall be permitted on the premises between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Full Breakdown
The MCZO lists "Home daycare for up to four (4) children" as a permitted use across all residential districts, from Rural-190 through R-5, without a special use permit. Article 602.4's conditions require the operator to live in the home, a fenced rear or side yard with at least 75 square feet of outdoor space per child, no signage or advertising revealing the business, no listing of the home address in ads, no exterior alteration signaling a business, and no drop-offs or pick-ups between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Exceeding four children under compensated care at once takes the use outside this permitted category entirely.
Violations & Fines
Operating outside these conditions is a zoning violation and a public nuisance under MCZO § 1202; it is a class 2 misdemeanor under § 1203, with each day of continued violation a separate offense, or the County may pursue civil penalties instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special use permit for a home daycare in unincorporated Maricopa County?
Can I put up a sign advertising my home daycare?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona home business overview
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