Lacey City Zoning Code
16.65 Day
Care Facilities
16.65.010 Definitions.
For purposes of this title, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
A. “Child day care” means the providing of supplemental parental care and supervision for a child or children who are not related to the provider, on a regular basis for less than twenty-four hours a day and under license by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. The term does not include babysitting services of a casual, non-recurring nature or in the child’s own home. The term is further not intended to include cooperative, reciprocative child care by a group of parents in their respective homes.
B. “Child care facility” means a building or structure in which an agency, person or persons regularly provide care for a group of children for periods of less than twenty-four hours a day. Child day care facilities include family home child care, and child day care centers regulated by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, as presently defined in Chapter 74.15 RCW and WAC 388-73-422 as such statute or regulations may hereafter be amended.
C. “Family home child care” means a facility licensed by the state where child care is provided for twelve or fewer children in the family living quarters where the licensee resides as provided in RCW 43.215.010(1)(c).
D. “Child day care center” means a facility providing regularly scheduled care for a group of thirteen or more children within an age range of one month through twelve years, for periods of less than twenty-four hours. (Ord. 1539 §109, 2019; Ord. 927 §1 (part), 1992).
16.65.020 Family home child care.
Family home child care shall be permitted in all zoning districts of the city within a residential dwelling, subject to the following conditions:
A. Such homes shall comply with all building, fire safety and health codes and obtain a business license from the city for such a business;
B. The lot size, building size, setback and lot coverage shall conform to the standards of the zoning district in which it is located unless such structure is a legal nonconforming structure;
C. Such use shall meet the parking requirements of Chapter 16.72 LMC relating to off-street parking and loading;
D. Each family home child care facility shall be limited to one flush-wall sign having a maximum area of two square feet;
E. No structural or decorative alteration which will alter the single-family character of an existing or proposed residential structure or be incompatible with surrounding residences will be allowed. (Ord. 1539 §110, 2019; Ord. 927 §1 (part), 1992).
16.65.030 Child day care centers.
A child day care center, licensed by the state of Washington as provided for herein, shall be permitted under the conditions set forth in this section after registration with the city as provided in this chapter, subject to the following conditions:
A. A child day care center, proposed to be established in any residentially zoned district, light industrial district, light industrial/commercial district, mineral extraction district or the Lacey Historic Neighborhood, shall only be allowed after the issuance of a conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 16.66 LMC. A child day care center proposed for any other district of the city shall be allowed in the manner specified for such district and subject to the terms of LMC 16.65.030.
B. All child day care centers, whether required to have a conditional use permit or not, shall comply with all building, fire safety, traffic safety, health code, business licensing, setback, screening, landscaping, parking, signage, lot size, building size and lot coverage requirements of this code including any requirements specific to the district in which said center is located.
C. No child day care center shall be located in a private family residence unless the portion of the residence to which the children have access is separate from the usual living quarters of the family or is used exclusively for the children during the hours the center is in operation. (Ord. 1539 §111, 2019; Ord. 1380 §1, 2012; Ord. 1192 §167, 2002; Ord. 1154 §15, 2001; Ord. 927 §1 (part), 1992).