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Florence planners align in‑home childcare rules with state and fire code; commission approves change
Summary
The Planning Commission updated the Unified Development Ordinance to define 'small' in‑home childcare as five or fewer children (registered) and 'large' in‑home childcare as six to 12 children (special exception and fire marshal permitting), with grandfathering for existing operations noted.
The City of Florence Planning Commission approved a text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to bring in‑home childcare definitions and permitting into alignment with the state Department of Social Services (DSS) and the 2021 International Fire Code.
Under the change, small in‑home childcare will be defined as a residence providing care for up to five children and will require registration rather than licensure; large in‑home childcare will be defined as six to 12 children and will require a special‑exception use permit through the Board of Zoning Appeals and compliance with the state fire marshal’s requirements (which can include sprinkler systems and other house improvements). Staff said the code change is largely semantic to match state practice and the fire code and that existing operations that have previously met inspection standards would be treated as grandfathered.
A member of the public, Mark Kent, asked whether the change would affect an existing operator with six children; staff said existing approved operations would not be shut down but new large operations would need to meet state and fire marshal standards. The commission approved the amendment by voice vote.
