Child Care and Day Care Facility Permissions in Arlington County
In Arlington County, child care centers and day care uses are generally permitted as special exception uses requiring a Use Permit ("U") in nearly all zoning districts, including residential, commercial, industrial, and public districts. Conversely, "Family Day Care Homes" are classified as accessory uses and are allowed by-right ("P") without a use permit in most residential, multi-family, and commercial/mixed-use districts. All child care centers must be licensed pursuant to Chapter 52 of the Arlington County Code, and those serving 6 to 12 children must provide at least one off-street parking space and designate a neighborhood liaison [Section 12.4.1, Section 12.9.9, Section 14.3.7].
Permissibility by Zoning District
Arlington County categorizes day care into two primary types: principal "Child Care Centers" and accessory "Family Day Care Homes." The requirements for establishing these uses vary depending on the specific Arlington County zoning designation.
Principal Use: Child Care Centers
Child care centers are permitted only via a special exception Use Permit ("U") as a principal use. This requirement applies to Public (P), Residential (R), Multiple-family (RA), Commercial (C), and Industrial (M) districts.
| District Category | Specific District Designations | Permission Level |
|---|---|---|
| Public (P) | S-3A, S-D, P-S | Use Permit ("U") |
| Residential (R) | R-20, R-10, R-10T, R-8, R-6, R-5, R15-30T, R2-7 | Use Permit ("U") |
| Multiple-family (RA) | RA14-26, RA8-18, RA7-16, RA6-15 | Use Permit ("U") |
| Commercial (C) | RA4.8, R-C, RA-H, RA-H-3.2, C-1-R, C-1, MU-VS, C-1-O, C-O-1.0, C-O-1.5, C-O-2.5, C-O, C-O-A, C-O Rosslyn, C-O Crystal City, C-2, C-TH, C-3, C-R | Use Permit ("U") |
| Industrial (M) | CM, M-1, M-2 | Use Permit ("U") |
| Form Based Code | CP-FBC (Columbia Pike) | Use Permit ("U") |
Accessory Use: Family Day Care Homes
Family Day Care Homes are allowed by-right ("P") in the majority of Arlington County districts where residential dwellings are permitted.
| District Category | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Public (P) | Permitted By-Right ("P") |
| Residential (R) | Permitted By-Right ("P") |
| Multiple-family (RA) | Permitted By-Right ("P") |
| Commercial (C) | Permitted By-Right ("P") |
| Columbia Pike (CP-FBC) | Permitted By-Right ("P") |
Use Standards and Requirements
Arlington County mandates specific operational standards for any day care use to ensure safety and neighborhood compatibility.
General Standards for Child Care Centers
All facilities providing care, protection, and supervision for children for less than 24 hours a day are classified as day care uses [Section 12.2.4.C].
- Licensing: Every child care center, excluding those providing only before- and after-school programs, must be licensed under Chapter 52 of the Arlington County Code [Section 12.4.1].
- Use Permits: For any use that provides instruction to children where 20% or more of students are under 18, or if 10 or more children under 18 are enrolled in classes scheduled simultaneously, a Use Permit must be obtained from the County Board [Section 12.5.20].
Standards for Family Day Care Homes
Arlington County defines these as accessory uses within a dwelling unit.
- Escort Requirement: Parents or authorized caregivers must escort children both to and from the home at all times [Section 12.9.9.A].
- Outdoor Play Areas: If an on-site outdoor play area is provided, it must be enclosed and screened by a solid wall or fence (compliant with Section 3.2.6) to minimize noise and visibility. This does not apply to communal play areas in multi-family complexes [Section 12.9.9.B].
- Large Family Day Care Homes (6-12 Children): These facilities must designate an owner/operator as a neighborhood liaison to address community concerns. The liaison's contact info must be provided to the local Civic Association [Section 12.9.9.C.1].
- Queuing Management: The facility must manage drop-offs so that queuing does not occur on public streets or impede access to neighboring driveways [Section 12.9.9.C.3].
Parking and Loading Standards
Arlington County requires specific off-street parking ratios based on the number of children or the nature of the facility.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Child Care Centers | 1 space per 10 children [Section 14.3.7.A] |
| Family Day Care Homes (6-12 children) | 1 space total (not in addition to existing off-street parking) [Section 14.3.7.A] |
| Family Day Care Homes (under 6 children) | No additional requirement [Section 14.3.7.A] |
The Arlington County Board may modify these parking requirements through the Use Permit process if the applicant demonstrates that sufficient parking/circulation is maintained for pick-up and drop-off, or if they implement a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategy [Section 14.3.7.C.2].
Sections Cited
- Section 3.2.6: Placement (Setbacks and Yards)
- Section 4.1.2: Public (P) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 4.1.4: Public (P) Districts Accessory Uses Table
- Section 5.1.2: Residential (R) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 5.1.4: Residential (R) Districts Accessory Use Table
- Section 6.1.2: Multiple-family (RA) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 6.1.4: Multiple-family (RA) Districts Accessory Use Table
- Section 7.1.2: Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 7.1.3: Commercial/Mixed Use (C) Districts Accessory Use Table
- Section 8.1.2: Industrial (M) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 9.6.5: Pentagon City Coordinated Redevelopment District Uses Permitted
- Section 11.1.5: Columbia Pike Form Based Code District Principal Use Table
- Section 11.1.6: Columbia Pike Form Based Code Districts Accessory Use Table
- Section 12.2.4.C: Day Care (Category Definition)
- Section 12.4.1: Day Care Uses (Public and Civic Use Standards)
- Section 12.5.20: Retail, Personal Service Uses (Commercial Standards)
- Section 12.9.9: Family Day Care Homes (Accessory Use Standards)
- Section 14.3.7.A: Required Parking and Standing Space
- Section 14.3.7.C.2: Modification of parking requirements for child care centers