DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines’ city manager says the city won’t conduct a crackdown on in-home day cares, citing complaints that parents wouldn’t have anywhere to leave their children.
Des Moines limits in-home day cares to six children, but that ordinance is rarely enforced. The state allows up to 16 in some instances. Officials estimate that the city crackdown could have eliminated spaces for more than 1,800 children.
The issue arose after the city investigated a neighbor’s complaint about parking problems caused by a day care provider who watched as many as a dozen children at a time.
City Manager Scott Sanders told The Des Moines Register that city officials will discuss changing the ordinance.
