Council eases laws on day cares in rural areas of Snohomish County

Snohomish County, Washington, is grappling with a severe child care shortage, with only 62 slots available for every 100 working parents of young children, significantly below the state average. The County Council has unanimously passed an ordinance aimed at easing regulatory barriers for child care facilities, particularly in rural areas where such services are desperately needed. This new ordinance permits facilities up to 8,000 square feet to be automatically approved in areas that previously disallowed them, which is a significant regulatory shift. Councilmember Jared Mead pointed out that while this change is crucial, it does not address the shortage of qualified teachers necessary to fill these positions. The streamlined permitting process aims to alleviate the lengthy and costly conditional use requirements that businesses previously faced.

Despite these efforts, experts caution that building more facilities will not resolve the deep-rooted issues surrounding the child care crisis. Mead emphasized the importance of recognizing the full scope of the problem, urging community understanding and support. As Snohomish County takes these steps, the hope is to foster an environment where child care facilities can flourish and better serve families in need.