Child Care Facilities

A child care facility requires a development permit and must follow the requirements of the Zoning Bylaw and National Building Code of Canada. To view the Zoning Bylaws, visit the Bylaws page and select "Zoning" under category.

Types of child care facilities

There are three types of child care facilities:

• Child care centre – provides care for 12 or more children
• Family child care home – provides care for up to eight children in a one unit dwelling
• Group family child care home – provides care for up to 12 children in a one unit dwelling

Child care centre

This type of child care facility is a permitted or discretionary (council) use in all residential zoning districts, except for CR1 and CR2; and all commercial and institutional zoning districts. Child care centres are not allowed in a dwelling unit.

Family child care home

This type of child care facility is a permitted use in all residential zoning districts and in the RMU zoning district. Family child care homes are not allowed in the same dwelling as a home based business, secondary suite, or on a site with a garage suite.

Group family child care home

This type of child care facility is a permitted use in all residential zoning districts and in the RMU zoning district. Family child care homes are not allowed in the same dwelling as a home based business, secondary suite, or on a site with a garage suite.

General requirements

Your child care facility may require one or more of the following:

• Provincial and public health approvals
• Meet National Building Code, Building Bylaw, and Fire Code regulations
• Building permit and inspections
• Business licence

Please see our Establishing Your Child Care Home or Centre brochure for further details.