Day Care Homes

Day care homes 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 day care homes

There are three types of day care homes – private day care homes, residential day care homes and residential day care facilities. The difference between these is the number of people receiving care and whether there is paid staff. Day care homes do not provide for overnight accommodation.

Private day care home

This type of day care home is a permitted use in residential, commercial and institutional zoning districts, and you must provide the following:

• Care for five persons or less in a dwelling unit
• For people who need care during the day who require personal services, supervision or assistance for the activities of daily living

Residential day care home

This type of day care home is a discretionary use (council) in residential zoning districts and the RMU zoning district, and you must provide the following:

• Care for nine persons or less in a dwelling unit
• Staff or family who provide care during the day for people who need personal services, supervision, or assistance for the activities of daily living

Residential day care facility

This type of day care home is a discretionary use (council) in all residential, commercial and institutional zoning districts, and you must provide the following:

• Care for 10 or more people in a residential setting
• Staff who provide care during the day for people who need personal services, supervision, or assistance for the activities of daily living or protection of the person

Building permit

You may require a building permit to meet fire and building code requirements.

Please see our Establishing Your Day Care Home brochure for further details.