Rules for operating a licensed child care facility

• Active Play (PDF)
• Family Child Care (PDF)
• Safe Play Space (PDF)
• Water Safety 2013 (PDF)

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Child care can be licensed, registered or unlicensed. Unlicensed (or licence-not-required) child care providers can care for only two children or a sibling group not related to them. If care is provided to three or more children, a licence is required.

• Learn about requirements for the different types of child care

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Instructions and guidance

Monitoring and inspection

Licensing officers from the local health authority monitor each child care facility to make sure that rules are being followed and that the needs of the children in care are being met. This includes inspection, discussion and risk analysis of facility plans and programs. Each facility is monitored and assessed on an individual basis.

Work closely with your licensing officer to make sure you understand what is expected. They're available to discuss issues, make site visits, provide education and help licensees understand what needs to be done and why.

Make a change to your licence: Be sure to contact the licensing officer at your local health authority to report any changes to your licence. For example, you will need to request authorization to change locations or add new spaces to your facility.

• Licensing Exemptions (PDF)
• Moving to a New Location (PDF)

Authority to monitor licensed facilities

Health authorities are legislated to monitor licensed child care facilities. Child care licensing follows the same structure and governance used for other community licensing programs in B.C. Learn more about how governance works:

• A Guide to Community Care Facility Licensing (PDF)

Legislation:

• Community Care and Assisted Living Act
• Child Care Licensing Regulation

Responsibilities: The following licensing responsibilities are assigned.

Legislative amendment (May 2018): The Community Care and Assisted Living Amendment Act, 2018 - Bill 5 (PDF) amends the CCALA to require the posting of information online about community care facilities and assisted living residences, including persons operating illegally without a licence or registration.

• Bill 5 - Letter to Operators, July 2018 (PDF)
• Questions & Answers (PDF)

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Note: Cannabis and child care

British Columbia’s Cannabis Control and Licensing Act (CCLA) came into force October 17, 2018. What does this mean for child care providers in B.C.?

The CCLA authorizes adults to grow up to four cannabis plants per household. However, cultivation of cannabis for any use is prohibited in households that operate as licensed child care facilities (section 56 and 58). To align with this new legislation, Registered Licence Not Required (RLNR) providers are also prohibited from cultivating cannabis in dwellings used as child care, as stated in Child Care Resource and Referral Centre registration guidelines.

As always, any concerns related to the health, safety, and well-being of children should be reported to the appropriate agency:

• For licensed facilities: local Community Care Facilities Licensing Office
• For RLNR providers: local Child Care Resource and Referral program
• For certified Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) or ECE Assistants: ECE Registry

We hope you take the time to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the new legislation. For more information on the new cannabis laws and regulations, please visit the Public Safety Cannabis web page. If you have any further questions, please contact BC Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Secretariat directly at cannabis.secretariat@gov.bc.ca.