Can I run a daycare from my home in Royal Oak?
A family day-care home is allowed by right as an accessory use in One-Family Residential zoning (§ 770-34B, § 770-26). That is the small, state-licensed in-home category, so no zoning hearing is needed for it.
Larger operations are treated differently:
- Group day-care homes and day-care centers are special land uses in One-Family zones, and the ordinance allows centers there only in an existing church or school (§ 770-34C, § 770-59)
- Special land uses require Planning Commission approval after a public hearing, with mailed notice to owners within 300 ft (§ 770-11, § 770-13)
State licensing through Michigan applies on top of zoning and is separate from city approval.
If your program falls between categories, ask the Planning Division at 248-246-3280 before you commit. The license class you hold usually determines which zoning path applies.
Sources
Full text: Royal Oak ordinance on eCode360. Applies to districts: 1F, 1FL.
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