CO HB1222

Colorado has a shortage of licensed, safe, and affordable child care options, with family child care homes serving as an essential provider especially in rural counties with no licensed centers.

Local zoning, land use, building, and fire standards that differ across the state create barriers for family child care home providers and reduce the number willing to operate licensed facilities.

Local governing authorities must treat family child care homes as residential property use and cannot impose additional regulations that do not also apply to other residential properties, though they may prohibit adjacent large family child care homes or manage traffic and parking on a case-by-case basis.

Family child care home regulation is declared a matter of statewide concern, with the Department of Human Services maintaining consistent licensing standards including fire safety, sanitation, and physical environment protections.

The bill takes effect 90 days after final adjournment unless subject to a referendum petition, in which case it requires voter approval at the November 2022 general election.