§ 15-2725. CHILD CARE CENTERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES.

A.

Types of Day Care Facilities.

1.

Child Care Facility. A facility that provides nonmedical care to children under 18 years of age in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual on less than a 24-hour basis. Child care facility includes child care centers, employer-sponsored child care centers, and family child care homes. Each of these different types of child care facilities is subject to different regulations and land use requirements.

2.

Child Care Center. A child care facility that does not include a Family Child Care Home and is usually located in a commercial building that provides non-medical care and supervision to children (infant through school age) in a group setting for periods of less than 24 hours.

3.

Family Child Care Home. A child care facility that provides supervision to children (infant through school age) in the caregiver's own home for periods of less than 24 hours per day. Per State law, Family Child Care Homes are not limited to detached single-family homes. The operation of a family child care home constitutes an accessory use of residentially zoned and occupied properties and does not fundamentally alter the nature of the underlying residential use.

a.

Large Family Child Care Home. A home that provides family day care for 7 to 14 children, inclusive, including children under the age of 10 years who reside at the home.

b.

Small Family Child Care Home. A home that provides family day care for eight or fewer children, including children under the age of 10 years who reside at the home. The use of a single-family residence as a small family child care home shall be considered a residential use of property for the purposes of all local ordinances, and shall not require an entitlement or business tax certificate.

B.

Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers.

1.

License. The operator shall secure and maintain a child care center license from the State of California Department of Social Services.

C.

Standards for Family Child Care Homes.

1.

License. The operator shall secure and maintain a license from the State of California Department of Social Services.

2.

Large Family Child Care Separation. A proposed Family Child Care Home shall not be located closer than 300 feet from the nearest lot line of another large family day care home for which a Discretionary Permit has already been issued and is in effect. However, the Director may allow the proposed large family day care home to be located closer than 300 feet if it is determined that such closer location will not have an adverse effect on surrounding properties or on vehicular or pedestrian safety in the area.

3.

Fire Clearance. A fire safety clearance approved by Fresno Fire Department is required for Large Family Child Care Homes.

4.

Play structures. Large family child care homes must meet play structure setback and placement requirements in section 15-2004 that apply to all single-family dwellings.

D.

Additional Standards.

1.

All Large Family Child Care providers are required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit, as put forth in Article 53, Conditional Use Permits. Conditions associated with the Conditional Use Permit shall not exceed the standards and conditions outlined in this Section 15-2725.

2.

All Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes shall provide parking as required in Article 24, Parking and Loading.

(Added Ord. 2015-39, § 1, eff. 1-9-16; Am. Ord. 2017-33, § 25, eff. 7-30-17).