Fairfax County leaders are considering measures to cut red tape for small businesses, including proposals to make it easier for home-based childcare providers to open and expand.
The changes would simplify zoning requirements and replace lengthy public hearings with administrative approval for some operators. Officials say the aim is to speed up decisions while preserving safety standards.
Under the current rules, providers generally need special approval to care for more than seven children in a detached house, or more than five in a townhouse or apartment. The county is examining proposals that could allow up to 12 children, depending on the type of property and the option eventually approved.
Eligible applicants could use an administrative permit rather than apply for a special permit, which requires a public hearing and can take considerably longer.
“With an administrative permit, it can be reviewed quickly and approved, and doesn’t require any public hearing,” said Jacqui Kamp of Fairfax County’s Department of Planning and Development. “So it’s a quicker process than the special permit.”
The discussion forms part of a wider effort to improve the county’s business approval system. A county audit found that restaurants included in its review took a median of 315 days to open.
In response, Fairfax County has introduced a fast-track building review scheme for eligible commercial projects. The county said in August that processing times for qualifying applications had been reduced from 13 business days to between two and three, while some more complex but straightforward alterations could be reviewed within 14 business days rather than the previous 39.
Bill Hicks, director of Fairfax County Land Development Services, said officials were setting up a cross-agency working group to address problems identified in the audit.
“We believe the audit found some things that we need to improve upon, and we’re gonna chase those things down,” he said. “We’re going to kick off a work group across agencies to look at our processes and make meaningful change.”
The group is expected to be operational by November, with county officials aiming to implement the audit’s recommendations by August 2027.
Further public feedback will be sought before a final decision is made on the proposed home daycare zoning changes.
