Zoning Provisions for Child Day Care Facilities
A paper copy of these documents is available as a library loan to Washington city, town and county employees and officials. Reference No. PL 8.3760 Z655 1996.
Introduction
A city's zoning authority over child day care facilities was substantially limited by 1994 legislation that is now codified in RCW 35.63.185, for cities other than code cities and for towns, and in RCW 35A.63.215, for code cities. The effect of this legislation is discussed in the AWC bulletin titled "New Day Care Siting Preemptive Legislation," which follows this introduction. As a result of this legislation, city ordinances adopted to comply with it are basically uniform in their provisions concerning "family day care" facilities.
Since local regulation of other day care facilities is not preempted by this legislation, cities may tailor their zoning regulations of those facilities according to local needs. The enclosed ordinances from Bainbridge Island, Chelan, Fircrest, Mukilteo, and Olympia, and the "Model Ordinance for Child Day Care Facilities" prepared by the State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (DCTED) all address these other types of day care facilities. Although the DCTED model ordinance was prepared in 1990, before the 1994 preemptive legislation, these provisions comply with this legislation.
City Ordinance Provisions
- "Model Ordinance for Child Day Care Facilities" by DCTED
- Bainbridge Island Municipal Code, Title 18.93 - Day Care Facilities
- Chelan Municipal Code, Chapter 17.08
Library Resources (Paper copies only)
- "New Day Care Siting Preemptive Legislation," AWC Bulletin, May 5, 1994
- Fircrest Ordinance No. 1001, March 10, 1992
- Mukilteo Municipal Code, Chapter 17.50
- Olympia Unified Development Code, Section 18.02.180, 18.04.060
- SeaTac Ordinance 94-1030, July 12, 1994