A new ordinance change will allow residential daycares in Leander, enabling home child care providers to look after more children.
Leander City Council voted 6-1 July 16 to expand the capacity of in-home daycares from five to six children. Additionally, this ordinance change allows qualifying daycares to look after six more children after school for a total of 12.
The details
With the approval of this ordinance, in-home daycares that meet specific requirements can look after up to 12 children after school. These daycares would have to obtain a permit from the city, which would ensure the businesses meet traffic, parking and outdoor play area requirements.
These daycares would need to provide parking away from the street for visitors and employees while providing a plan for drop-offs and pickups, according to city documents.
There are over 30 in-home daycares in Leander, according to city officials.
The context
Before this ordinance was passed, in-home daycares could only look after a maximum of five children, fewer than those in surrounding cities like Round Rock and Cedar Park.
City officials have been considering a change to Leander’s in-home daycare regulations for several months.
During an April City Council meeting, city staff compared Leander’s regulations with those of neighboring cities. Weeks later, the Leander Planning and Zoning Commission voted May 28 to increase the capacity of residential daycares to six, but did not approve allowing qualifying daycares to look after a total of 12 children after school.
The July 16 vote is the second reading of the ordinance, meaning that the change has officially passed.
