Preschool Licensing, Zoning, and HOA Requirements

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!)

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?”

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.