•HIGH From Edmonton's Land Use Bylaw DEFINITIONS OF CHILD CARE
SERVICES * Daycare Centre Provides regular care for preschool-aged children. Typically, children are in the centre on a full-time basis Monday' to' Friday, during the day.
July 1997
Child Care Services CHILD CARE SERVICE A Child Care Service is any service licensed under the Provincial Social Care Facilities Licensing Act that provides care, development and supervision for.7or more children. A Child Care Service can be a daycare centre, an out-of-school care centre, a drop-in centre or a nursery school/play school.
* Out-of-School Care Centre Provides care for school-aged children between the ages of 6 to 12. Children are inthe centre before and after school, during Slunch, and during school holidays. SDrop-In Centre Provides part-time and casual care for children on a drop-in basis. Children are in the centre for 3 or more hours each day, but less than 40 hours each month.
The bylaw accommodates work-based child care centres, as well as facilities -in residential areas, giving parents a rafige of child care options. The preferred location of a Child Care Service is in a residential area. In a residential area, preference will be given to those facilities that are located: * on a corner site;
* Nursery School /Play School Provides regular play-based activities for preschool-aged children, 3 or less hours in
on a collectoror arterial road; * beside or in community facilities such as a school, park, church or community
any day.
centre; or * beside commercial areas or multi-family deel*. development. A Child Care Service must not be located within 50 m (164 ft.) of a service station or gas bar.
WHEN IS A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT NEEDED? * You must apply for a development, permit if you plan on looking after 7 or. more children. * You do not need a development permit if you are looking after 6 or fewer children in your home. WHERE CHILD CARE SERVICES CAN BE LOCATED Child Care Services are allowed as discretionary uses in most land use districts.
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In a commercial area, the Development Officer will look at the suitability of surrounding development to ensure the proposed facility is in a.safe location. Factors such as traffic, noise and closeness to hazardous uses will be considered. Child Care Services are not permitted along highway corridors or in medium and heavy industrial areas.
DE V E LOPME.NT
REGULATIONS FOR OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE play space vary, depending on the kind of Child Care Service you are applying for.
Regulations for outdoor depending on the kind of Child Care
Daycare centres must provide at least ut pl a e cns 7 m2 (75 sq.ft.) of outdoor play space per child. This space must: * *
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be located beside the centre; be at ground level, although rooftop play
space may be considered in some cases; be a cs. be easy to access, * be securely enclosed; * have a shaded area, wind protection aind direct access to sunlight; have a hard surface on 25% of the area, for the use of wheeled toys; * have a length no more than 1.5 times the width. Out-of-school care centres must provide the same amount of outdoor play space as daycare centres. However, an acceptable' alternative is a public park, as long as it is within walking distance of your proposed centre, or within 500 m (1,640 ft.).
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Drop-in centres andnursery schools do not need to provide outdoor play space.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
If your centre is in a commercial area, the outdoor play space should be safely located, For example, it should be away from:
Fill out an application form supplied by our office. We will need to know the legal description of your property - the lot, block, plan number and subdivision. This is on
* loading/unloading areas; *garbage garbage bins; bins; 1 * largeparkin lots; busy roads; any uses that are noisy, hazardous or generate heavy traffic.
your tax notice. You will alsoneed to provide a set of plans that shows: building elevations; * indoor play and rest areas; * the number of parking spaces on the drop-offparking area; and the .Edmonton,.Alberta 4 property * where fencing, landscaping and buffering are provided; . * location and configuration of the outdoor . play area.
"OTHER REGULATIONS
This leaflet summarizes Edmonton's Land Use Bylaw regulations regarding Child Services. Refer to Section 93 of the ,Care for a complete listing of the Bylaw take or play children where c,.Activity rooms regulations. activities educational part in recreational or must have a source of natural light. In addition to the zoning requirements, you - -Windows should make up at least 10% of must also meet the City building code as the total floor area of these rooms. well as health and fire regulations. Approvals from these municipal authorities If ydur proposed centre is in a residential are needed before the Province will grant a Sarea,-it should be designed to look like a child care license. For further information Stypical home in the area.. on these regulations, call: The outside of the facility should be * Building Codes.................... 496-3100 ell lit. :.2. w.
Development and Inspection Services 2nd Floor,10250- 101 Street Edmontonlberta T5J 3P4 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m. Telephone: 496-3100
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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Health Regulations.............. 482-1965
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Fire Regulations .................. 496-3850
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The Province is responsible for setting standards for Child CareServices under the. Social Care Facilities-Act. You should also the Provincial requirements. This includes the submission of a service plan, a criminal record check and inspection by aregional licensing officer. The Provincial Licensing Office can be reached at 427-0444.
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Please contact:
FURTHER INFORMATION
''Iae drop-off parking space must be • ided for every 10 children. Drop-off 'rl ng should be within 60 m (197 ft.) of the front entrance of your centre.
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Planning staffare also available if r loaalbei Pann you wish totfdiscuss your proposal a or o i i o or require more information.
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It is highly recommended that all centres for outdoor follow CSA guidelines:',.",' aygrounds and equipment.
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If you plan on opening an Out-of-Schoo t Care Program, check with the City Commuity Service Department as their approval is needed regarding subsidized .families. They can be reached at 496-5849.
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