Colfax Municipal Code Ch. 17.160 Large Family Day Care

This chapter establishes requirements and standards for the location and operation of large family day care homes, as defined in subsection 17.64.080G., and are in addition to the location and general development standards set forth in Articles III and IV.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

A. Location. A large family day care home shall only be located within a detached single-family dwelling.

B. Parking. Off-street parking shall be provided as follows:

1. One space for each employee not residing in the large family day care home dwelling, plus the two spaces required for the occupants of the single-family residence as required in Chapter 17.108 (off-street parking and loading).

2. Four spaces for the loading and unloading of children. If the property is located in a residential zone, these spaces must be provided on site; however, these spaces may be purchased or leased pursuant to Section 17.108.040D. (purchase or lease of parking spaces). If the property is located in a commercial zone, and off-street parking is available along the street frontage of the large family day care home site, only two of these spaces are required on site.

3. Not more than three of the spaces required herein, located side by side, shall be permitted within the required front yard setback area. These spaces may be so designed to permit backing onto the adjacent street.

4. Up to three of the required employee or children loading/unloading on-site parking spaces may be located in tandem behind the required parking spaces for the occupants of the dwelling or for employees. However, in no instance shall such tandem parking result in more than one parking space behind each required occupant or employee parking space.

C. Noise. It is intended that noise from outdoor play areas be kept to a level consistent with residential neighborhoods. To attain this intent and reduce possible noise impacts, outdoor play/activity areas shall only be used between the hours of six a.m. to eight p.m. Additionally, radio or other electronic amplification devices, if used, shall be play at volumes which are not audible beyond the exterior boundary of the large family day care home site.

D. Separation. As a means to maintain the integrity of residential neighborhoods, new large family day care homes shall not be located within five hundred (500) feet of an existing state licensed large family day care home or within five hundred (500) feet of any other child day care center licensed to care for fifteen (15) or more children.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

An application for an administrative permit shall be filed with the planning department as required in Chapter 17.32. Deviation from the general requirements described in Section 17.160.020 may be approved pursuant to an approval of an administrative permit.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)

A. Those large family day care homes that exist on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, and on that date have a valid large family day care home license issued by the state of California, are considered legal nonconforming uses. Such nonconforming use may continue until the renewal date required for state of California licensing of the provider's large family day care home. If the provider does not apply for approval of his or her large family day care home pursuant to this chapter by the date required for state licensing renewal, then the legal nonconforming use shall be deemed to terminate.

B. In those instances where an application has been filed in a timely manner, and the director finds that numerous conditions must be applied to make the nonconforming large family day care home consistent with this chapter, the director may extend the valid nonconforming use status up to five years. This extension by the director would be granted only as a means to give the applicant adequate time to satisfy the conditions of permit approval. If conditions of approval are not satisfied within the extension period granted by the director, the legal nonconforming use shall terminate.

(Ord. No. 519, 8-8-2012)