Stamford Child Care Permitting Guide 2025

Child Day Care Pre-Application Meeting

Applicants can request an inter-departmental pre-application meeting to understand the codes and regulations for opening a Child Daycare. Relevant City departments include the Fire Marshal, Building Department, Transportation Bureau, Health Department, WPCA, and Land Use Bureau. The EPB and Engineering Bureau review the preliminary plans at the pre-application meetings. 

Stamford Child Care Permitting Guide 2025

Licensing Options 

  • Family Day Care Homes: Private homes that provide care for up to six children.   
  • Group Day Care Homes: Provide care for 7 to 12 children, either in a facility other than a private home or meeting the definition of a family childcare home. 
  • Day Care Center: Provides care for more than 12 children within a facility other than a private home   

 

Building Department 

  • Day Care Centers  
  • Group E, Educational (IBC Section 305.2) or Group I, Institutional (IBC Section 308.5 and IBC Section 308.5.1) 
  • Group Child Care Homes
  • A modification of the IRC Section 308.5.4 for  
  • Family Child Care Home
  • IBC Sections 305.2.3 and 308.5.4. Requires State mod for more than three children. 

 

Health Department  

  • Health Department review only required for Group Day Care Homes and Child Day Care Centers.
  • Comprehensive lead test required for pre- 1978 buildings includes test of paint, water and bare soil. 
  • Food preparation or delivery for daycares must be discussed with the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Environmental Health and Inspections.

 

Engineering Bureau 

  • Change of use applications may require the implementation of water quality improvement measures.

 

Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department   

  • Parking area safety considerations (geometry, signage, pavement markings) 
  • Drop-off/pick-up safety and traffic flow 

 

What kind of Zoning approval do I need? 

  • Review Zoning Regulations to determine if you need a Zoning Permit (staff level) for as-of-right projects or Special Permit (Zoning Board) before you begin.   

 

Zoning Review Process 

  • Family Day Care Homes and Group Day Care Homes are allowed by Zoning Permit in all Zoning Districts except Industrial Districts. 
  • Child day care centers are permitted by right in commercial and multifamily zoned districts. 
  • Child Day Care Centers in single-family zoning districts require a Special Permit from the Zoning Board. 
  • No child day care allowed in Industrial Zoning Districts. 

 

Parking, Drop-off/Pick-up 

  • Parking requirement – 1.25 parking spaces per employee on maximum shift. Show assigned/shared parking spaces ion survey/aerial image. 
  • Shared parking approval requires administrative approval by Zoning Board. 

 

Fire Marshal 

  • Applicable Fire Codes 
  • Daycare Occupancies – NFPA 101 sec. 3.3.198.4 
  • Group Daycare – NFPA 101 sec. 17.6 (3-12 individuals) 
  • Home Daycare – NFPA 101 sec. 17.6.1.4.1.1. (3-6 individuals) 
  • Applicable Egress for daycare type 
  • Applicable Life Safety Systems 
  •  Fire Alarm 
  • Smoke / CO Detection 
  • Fire Drills / Evacuation Map 
  • Exit Signage / Emergency Lights / Extinguishers 
  • For additional information, call the Fire Marshal Office at 203-977-4651