mele
REGISTERED
hello there. After exhaustive research and google entries, I stumbled upon this forum and crossing my fingers someone can help. I currently have a small family childcare in San Francisco for children 2.5 - 6 yo. I live in an apartment complex and looking for a new space so that I can expand to a large daycare for up to 12 children. The issue I’m finding is that the fire inspector states: our Fire Marshal, the Authority Having Jurisdiction, does not allow LFDC centers in apartment buildings or any occupancy other than an R3. This includes single family homes or duplexes only.
She has sent me a document with interpretations from CFC and CBC from 2007. I cannot find where it explicitly says that large family childcares are not allowed in apartment buildings. In fact, I can’t even find this document available by searching all over SFFD’s website and there’s a new inspector in training and she doesn’t even have know about this document.
Here is the definition from what she sent: Large Family Day Care – Means a provider’s own home licensed to provide day care for nine to fourteen persons, less than twenty-four hours per day. This would include children under the age of ten who reside at the providers’ home. R-3 Occupancy.
Regarding the R-3 occupancy- doesn’t this mean that it is considered an R-3 occupancy due to the nature of it being a childcare? And not necessarily a requirement that it is in a building with one or two dwelling units? Housing is already pricey in SF, and most units in my area are triplexes.
The place I’m highly considering is on the first floor, has 2 exits, but in a building with 3 units. One exit/entrance is the front door which has direct access to the street and the other is through the back that has an outdoor stairwell connecting to the above units, but the exit goes into a courtyard and there’s a tradesmen exit going on the side of the building and out to the street.
I have a preinspection but at $150/hour, I can’t imagine doing too many of these. I want to ensure I come as prepared as possible. I’ve been told before that this specific fire inspector has misinterpreted codes before, so any insight here would be helpful. Hopefully the new inspector will start fresh and read up on whatever regulation the other inspector refers to.
She has sent me a document with interpretations from CFC and CBC from 2007. I cannot find where it explicitly says that large family childcares are not allowed in apartment buildings. In fact, I can’t even find this document available by searching all over SFFD’s website and there’s a new inspector in training and she doesn’t even have know about this document.
Here is the definition from what she sent: Large Family Day Care – Means a provider’s own home licensed to provide day care for nine to fourteen persons, less than twenty-four hours per day. This would include children under the age of ten who reside at the providers’ home. R-3 Occupancy.
Regarding the R-3 occupancy- doesn’t this mean that it is considered an R-3 occupancy due to the nature of it being a childcare? And not necessarily a requirement that it is in a building with one or two dwelling units? Housing is already pricey in SF, and most units in my area are triplexes.
The place I’m highly considering is on the first floor, has 2 exits, but in a building with 3 units. One exit/entrance is the front door which has direct access to the street and the other is through the back that has an outdoor stairwell connecting to the above units, but the exit goes into a courtyard and there’s a tradesmen exit going on the side of the building and out to the street.
I have a preinspection but at $150/hour, I can’t imagine doing too many of these. I want to ensure I come as prepared as possible. I’ve been told before that this specific fire inspector has misinterpreted codes before, so any insight here would be helpful. Hopefully the new inspector will start fresh and read up on whatever regulation the other inspector refers to.
