Council adopts zoning change to allow larger day-care operations in residential districts by administrative permit

The Wichita City Council on May 6 adopted an amendment to the Unified Zoning Code to allow 'day care general' (day care that normally serves more than 12 individuals) in several residential zoning districts via an administrative permit process.

Planning Department staff said the change follows prior coordination with KDHE (child-care licensing) and the Planning Commission's advanced plans committee. The amendment permits providers licensed at levels above 12 children to seek an administrative permit in single-family and certain multifamily residential districts rather than pursuing a conditional use, subject to public notice to adjoining property owners and a 14-day protest period. If more than 50% of abutting and adjoining property owners file protests, the administrative permit would be denied and the applicant could pursue a conditional-use application for public hearings.

The code change limits the administrative-permit pathway to care for children under age 16; any operator seeking to serve other populations or ages beyond that threshold would continue to require conditional-use review. Planning staff said the process mirrors notice and protest procedures used for short-term rentals and is intended to expand capacity while preserving community notice and the council- and commission-based review pathway when neighbors oppose.</n Council member Maggie Ballard (absent for the vote earlier in the meeting) led the item's council discussion praising collaboration with child-care licensing and provider groups. The ordinance was placed on first reading and approved.