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Preschool Licensing, Zoning, and HOA Requirements

July 20, 2021 by Joy Anderson

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LICENSING

  • Online Preschool: There are no regulatory agencies that govern online preschool, thus there is NO license or permit required for it.
  • Local Preschool: Some states require you to be licensed under their daycare licensing (YES, preschools fall under the daycare licensing category) if you teach above a certain number of children. We teach you how to start a preschool without getting licensed (i.e. you can teach up to 6 students at a time in Idaho without a license). And if you want to teach more than that number, We teach you how to get licensed as well.
    • NOTE: If you want to get licensed: Most states don’t require a specific degree or level of experience to get licensed. It’s easy!
    • To see your state’s licensing guidelines (and how many students you can have at a time without being licensed) check out this article: Preschool License: Everything You Need to Know (For All 50 States!)

ZONING

  • Online Preschool: There are no regulatory agencies that govern online preschool, thus there are NO zoning requirements.
  • Local Preschool:
    • If you don’t need to be licensed, then you don’t need to contact your city’s Planning & Zoning department. Thus, there are no zoning requirements.
    • If you are going to get a license, then you’ll need to contact your city’s Planning & Zoning department in a later step to see if there are any special steps you need to go through. You might just need a business license, or you might also need a “Special Use Permit.” In any case, you’ll go through that step later.
    • If you’re operating out of your home and you choose to be licensed, you’ll want to contact your city’s Planning & Zoning department to ask if you need a special use permit. This question below should get you to the right person. Remember to emphasize that you are getting licensed as a DAYCARE – if they try to put you into the SCHOOL category you’ll have a much more difficult time, and you don’t belong in that category. (Again, there is no PRESCHOOL category; you’re lumped into the “daycare” category.)
    • Ask them: “I’M STARTING A PRESCHOOL (NOT A DAYCARE) IN MY HOME. I’LL BE GETTING LICENSED AS A DAYCARE, BUT I’M A PRESCHOOL SO I’LL ONLY TEACH CHILDREN AGES 3-5 FOR A FEW HOURS EACH DAY, THEN THEY’LL GO HOME. DO I NEED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF PERMIT?”

HOAs

This is only applicable if your subdivision has a Homeowner’s Association:

  • Online Preschool: There are no regulatory agencies that govern online preschool, thus your HOA doesn’t need to know about it.
  • Local Preschool: Read your CC&R’s to see if you need their approval. If so, you will ask for permission in a later step.

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Category: Administration, Start an Online Preschool, What are the Requirements?
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  • Play & Learn
    ▼
    • Curriculum & Lesson Plans
    • By Activity
    • By Alphabet
    • By Bible Story
    • By Book
    • By Celebration
    • By Holiday
    • By Month
    • By Season
    • By Skill
    • By Theme
  • Milestones
    ▼
    • 2 Year Old
    • 3 Year Old
    • 4 Year Old
    • 5 Year Old
    • Developmental Delays
    • Growth & Development
    • Special Needs Children
  • Parent
    ▼
    • Behavior Guidance
    • Everyday Life
    • Family Life Events
    • Going to Kindergarten
    • Going to Preschool
    • Homeschool Preschool
  • Teacher
    ▼
    • Classroom Management
    • Classroom Setup & Layout
    • Daily Schedule
    • Field Trips & Events
    • How to Teach
    • Learning Centers
    • Parent Communication
    • Requirements to Teach
    • Teacher’s Lounge
  • Director/Owner
    ▼
    • Administration
    • Enrollment
    • Funding
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Parent Communication
    • Programs
    • Sell a Preschool
    • Staffing
  • Online Preschool
    ▼
    • Start an Online Preschool
    • Teach Online Preschool
  • Start A Preschool
    ▼
    • Do I Need to Be Licensed?
    • How Do I Sign Up Students?
    • How Do I Start a Preschool?
    • What are the Requirements?
    • What is a Preschool?
    • Who Can Start a Preschool?