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Planning commission updates in-home childcare rules to align with state and fire code
Summary
The Planning Commission revised in-home childcare language in the Unified Development Ordinance: 'small' in-home childcare now covers up to five children (matching fire-marshal guidance), 'large' in-home childcare covers six to 12 children and requires a special-exception permit and fire-marshal approval, and wording was changed from 'licensed' to 'registered' where appropriate.
The City of Florence Planning Commission approved an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to clarify in-home childcare categories and align local code with state Department of Social Services (DSS) guidance and fire-code requirements.
Planning staff told the commission that DSS describes a "family childcare home" as caring for no more than six children and a "group childcare home" as seven to 12 children. Staff said the 2021 International Fire Code and the state fire marshal's inspections effectively limit in-home care to five or fewer children without additional building upgrades (such as sprinkler systems) for safety reasons. To match that enforcement, staff proposed redefining "small in-home childcare" to mean no more than five children and creating a "large in-home childcare" category for six to 12 children that would remain subject to special-exception review by the Board of Zoning Appeals and fire-marshal permitting.
Staff also proposed changing the UDO language where it referred to "licensed" small childcare homes to instead use the term "registered" when reflecting DSS registration requirements. Commissioners asked whether existing providers would be affected; staff said existing operations that previously passed inspections would be treated as grandfathered and that the changes apply to new facilities moving forward.
A motion to adopt the amendment passed unanimously at the meeting. Staff said any large in-home childcare would need state approvals and any required structural upgrades to comply with the fire marshal's requirements.
