City of Salina Brochure-Child & Day Care Centers Zoning Requirements

1. LICENSED DAY CARE HOME
An occupied dwelling in which an
individual provides care for a maximum of
ten (10) children under the age of 14. This
number may include the provider’s own
children. Homes must be inspected annually
by the Health Department and must meet
specific State regulations.
Licensed Day Care Homes may
operate in residentially zoned areas as a
permitted home occupation. Those licensed
day care providers wishing to care for up to
ten (10) children under the age of 14 must
first obtain a license from the State of
Kansas via the Saline County Health
Department.
A licensed day care home is a home
based business and as such would normally
require a home occupation certificate issued
by the City of Salina. However, an
exception is currently in place providing that
in lieu of a home occupation certificate, the
Saline County Health Dept. furnishes the
City of Salina a list of all licensed child care
homes.
GROUP DAY CARE HOME
An occupied dwelling in which a
person provides care for a maximum of
twelve (12) children under 16 years of age.
These homes are inspected annually by the
Saline County Health Department and must
meet higher standards than Licensed Day
Care Homes. Day Care Homes must
employ an assistant to work at the
operation.
Day care providers wishing to care
for a maximum of twelve (12) children must
obtain a Conditional Use Permit from the
City Planning Commission. The Conditional
Use Permit application is reviewed at a
public hearing. There is a $133.00 non-
refundable application fee. Fees are subject to
change without notice. The approval of a
Conditional Use Permit is required before a
license can be obtained from the Health
Department. The Group Day Care Home
operator must also reside on the premises.
CHILD CARE CENTER
A facility providing licensed care for
more than 13 children, usually open from 6
a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.
Centers are inspected once a year by
the Health Department and must meet many
standards pertaining to health, safety, learning,
staff qualification and staff-to-child ratio. Child
Care Centers in nonresidential buildings
(churches, YMCAs, the Martin Luther King
Center, etc.) in residentially zoned areas must
obtain a Conditional Use Permit. Child Care
Centers may operate in commercially zoned
areas (C-1 to C-5) without special permission.
Child Care Centers located in residences
must be in a dwelling resided in by the Child
Care Center operator.
PRESCHOOL
A preschool is a facility licensed for up to
12 children who attend no more than three (3)
hours per day. Preschools are inspected
annually by the Saline County Health
Department and must meet the same
standards as Child Care Centers. Preschools
located in residential and nonresidential
buildings in residentially zoned areas require a
Conditional Use Permit. Preschools may
operate in commercially zoned areas (C-1 to C
-5) without review and approval. Preschools
providing care for no more than twelve (12)
children per session may be located in an
unoccupied dwelling.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REGARDING DAY CARE CENTERS
The following list includes several commonly
asked questions about zoning requirements
for operating day care centers for children:
1. What is a Day Care Home?
A Day Care Home is an occupied
dwelling in which a person provides care
for a maximum of 10 children under 16
years of age, with a limited number of
children under kindergarten age in
accordance with K.A.R. 28-4-114(e)
(1).
2. Do I count my own children when
determining how many children will be
provided care?
Yes, but only your children under eleven
(11) years of age count toward the
maximum of ten. The resident provider's
children who are age eleven (11) or older
are not counted for this definition.
3. What is a Group Day Care Home?
A Group Day Home is an occupied
dwelling in which a person provides care
for a maximum of twelve (12) children
under 16 years of age.
4. May anyone operate a Day Care Center
for children from his/her residence?
Yes. Licensed Day Care homes are
considered Home Occupations. Those
providers seeking a Group Day Care
Home license must first obtain a
Conditional Use Permit from the Planning
Commission. Daycare operators must

2. CHILD/DAY CARE CENTERS
CITY OF SALINA
ZONING REQUIREMENTS
Although anyone may provide child care,
regulated child care gives parents greater
assurance that minimum standards for
such care are being met. By law, anyone
who cares for a child in his or her home
on an ongoing basis, and who is not
related to that child, must be licensed.
Licensed Child/Day Care in Home
Group Child/Day Care in Home
Child/Day Care Center
Preschool
reside on the premises. Preschools and
Child Care Centers (more than 12
children) in a nonresidential building
must also obtain a Conditional Use
Permit to operate in residentially zoned
areas but may operate in commercially
zoned areas without special zoning or
use approval from the City of Salina.
5. What is a Conditional Use?
A Conditional Use is an allowed use in a
particular zoning district which must be
individually approved by the Planning
Commission at a public hearing. Not all
Conditional Use applications are
approved and some which are approved
have specific conditions attached.
6. Why would my application for a
Conditional Use Permit not be
approved?
There is no single answer to this
question. The applicant must attend the
hearing and has the burden of showing
that approval of the Conditional Use will
not cause injury to the surrounding
neighborhood.
7. What conditions might be imposed to
gain approval of my application?
Fencing or adequate parking for any
employees or for parents dropping off or
picking up their children may be
required. The public hearing will
determine what, if any, conditions are
imposed. For example, assistants or
employees might not be allowed if there
is not adequate off-street parking.
8. Do I need a City business license to
operate a Day Care Center for
children?
No. But the proposed Day Care location
must be inspected to insure that it will
comply with applicable building code,
fire code and Saline County Health
Department regulations.
Building permit requirements may also
apply. Please consult with staff to
determine if any proposed improvements
will require a building permit
If you have additional questions regarding Day Care
center zoning requirements please contact:
City of Salina
Development Services Department
City-County Building
300 W. Ash Street, Room 201
Salina, KS 67402-0736
785-309-5720 FAX 785-309-5713
For Saline County Health requirements
please contact:
Saline County Health Department
625 E. North Street
785-826-6600
PLF-129
Rev. 02-2014