Arizona Daycare Self-Inspection Checklist (Printable)

Recent changes (2024-2026)

New center rules took effect August 3, 2025 9 A.A.C. 5 (31 A.A.R. 2015) Centers ADHS's regular rulemaking for child care facilities (Notice of Final Rulemaking, 31 A.A.R. 2015) took effect August 3, 2025.
Out-of-school-time programs: one entry/exit roster A.R.S. § 36-894.02 (Laws 2025, ch. 48) Centers · School-age programs HB 2066, signed April 8, 2025: an out-of-school-time program that chooses to be licensed does not have to keep a roster for each room or activity area if it keeps a roster of school-age children on entry to and exit…
Annual licensing fees are back A.R.S. § 36-882; R9-5-206; R9-3-203 Centers · Group child care homes Licenses and group home certificates now run on a one-year cycle (since July 2022), and the $1 federally funded fee period ended June 30, 2024.
Proposed: second round of center amendments (not in effect) 9 A.A.C. 5 (proposed; docket 32 A.A.R. 1347) Centers ADHS is running an expedited rulemaking on the center rules.
Proposed: rewrite of the child care group home rules 9 A.A.C. 3 (proposed; dockets 31 A.A.R. 1595, 32 A.A.R. 1447) Group child care homes ADHS opened a rulemaking on the group home rules after its 2024 five-year review and has posted drafts in July 2025, August/September 2025, October 2025 and July/August 2026 (survey closed August 23, 2026).

Who needs a license, and from whom

Child care centers ("child care facilities") A.R.S. § 36-881(3); § 36-882(A) Centers Any facility that regularly provides child care for pay to 5 or more children not related to the proprietor, for less than 24 hours a day, must be licensed by ADHS before it receives any child.
Never above 10 children for pay or 15 children in total A.R.S. § 36-897(1); § 36-897.01; § 36-897.02(C)-(E) Group child care homes
DES-certified family child care homes (up to 4 children) A.R.S. § 46-801(6); A.A.C. R6-5-5220 Family child care DES certifies an adult (18 or older) to care for 4 or fewer children for compensation with state child care assistance money.
Who is exempt A.R.S. § 36-884; § 36-897.04 Centers · Group child care homes Exempt from ADHS licensing: care in the homes of the child's parents (and, for centers, of blood relatives); church nurseries during services; public school units during the school day; private schools during school…
Service classifications on the license A.A.C. R9-5-204; A.R.S. § 36-883(E) Centers ADHS lists each service a center may provide on the license: full-day, part-day, evening and nighttime, infant, one-year-old, two-year-old, three- to five-year-old, school-age out-of-school-time, and weekend care.
Annual fees, changes and new owners A.R.S. § 36-882; A.A.C. R9-5-205 to R9-5-208; R9-3-203 to R9-3-205 Centers · Group child care homes There is no fixed expiry: the license or certificate stays valid while the annual fee is paid (within 60 days before the anniversary date, or half then and the rest within 120 days).

Staff-to-child ratios

Infants 1:5 (2:11); 1s 1:6 (2:13); 2s 1:8; 3s 1:13; 4s 1:15; 5s 1:20; school-age 1:20 A.A.C. R9-5-404(A) Centers
Youngest child sets the ratio; 6+ children = director/designee plus one more staff on site A.A.C. R9-5-404(B)-(D) Centers
Infants resting on floor beds: 1:4 A.R.S. § 36-883.05(C) Centers Centers that use floor bedding for infants (allowed for programs with a documented least-restrictive-environment philosophy, with 30 days' notice to ADHS) must keep at least 1 staff member for every 4 resting infants in…
Group home: 2 adults on site whenever 6 or more enrolled children are present A.R.S. § 36-897.02(B); A.A.C. R9-3-301(D) Group child care homes
DES family homes: 4 for pay, 6 in total A.A.C. R6-5-5220 Family child care No more than 4 children in care for compensation; up to 6 in total only if no more than 2 are under age 1 (unless a sibling group).

Group size and space

Room capacity posted in each room A.A.C. R9-5-602; R9-5-303(B) Centers
Group home space A.A.C. R9-3-501(A) Group child care homes At least 30 square feet of indoor child care space per enrolled child (not counting kitchen, bathroom, laundry, workshop, hallway or unconverted garage), one toilet and sink for up to 10 children not in diapers, two…

Staff qualifications

Center director and director's designee A.A.C. R9-5-401(1)-(2) Centers Director: 21 or older with one of four pathways, for example 24 months of child care experience plus a high school diploma plus 6 credit hours in early childhood (or 60 hours of early childhood instruction and 12 hours…
Child educators, assistants, aides and volunteers A.A.C. R9-5-401(3)-(7) Centers Child educator: 18 or older, with 6 months of child care experience (3 months for school-age programs) plus a high school diploma or 12 college credits (6 in early childhood), or an early childhood associate or bachelor…
Group home provider and substitute A.A.C. R9-3-301(A)(1)-(2), (D)(1) Group child care homes The provider must live in the home, be 21 or older, have a high school diploma or higher, and have 3 credit hours (or 60 training hours) in child development, nutrition, psychology or early childhood, or 12 months of…
DES family home provider A.A.C. R6-5-5202; R6-5-5207(B) Family child care The applicant must be 18 or older, name one or more backup providers (an adult, or a licensed center or certified home), give three non-relative references and a health self-statement, and complete DES orientation and…

Background checks and fingerprint clearance cards

Copy of valid fingerprint clearance card and DES background check for every staff member and volunteer A.R.S. § 36-883.02; A.A.C. R9-5-203 Centers
Renewals A.R.S. § 41-1758.02; A.A.C. R9-5-203(D), (F) Centers · Group child care homes Cardholders must submit new fingerprints every six years to keep the card, and centers must keep a copy of each renewed card.
Fingerprint card and background check for every staff member and adult household member A.A.C. R9-3-202 Group child care homes
DES family homes A.R.S. § 46-807(B); A.A.C. R6-5-5204, R6-5-5207(A) Family child care Providers, backup providers and child care personnel are fingerprinted, and DES runs a Child Protective Services central registry check on the applicant, household members, adult children living elsewhere and backup…

Training

10-day new-staff training documented and signed by the director A.A.C. R9-5-403(A) Centers
24 training hours per staff member per 12 months A.A.C. R9-5-403(B) Centers
First aid/CPR-certified staff on site, on trips and in vehicles at all times A.A.C. R9-5-301(G); R9-5-403(E) Centers
12 training hours per group home staff member per 12 months A.A.C. R9-3-302 Group child care homes
DES family home training A.A.C. R6-5-5207(C)-(F) Family child care Within 60 days of certification, the provider and individual backup providers show first aid and infant/child CPR from a course following American Red Cross or American Heart Association guidelines, and keep it current.

Health and safety

Supervision at all times A.A.C. R9-5-501(B)(1); R9-3-401(B)(1); R6-5-5210(D)-(E) Centers · Group child care homes · Family child care Centers and group homes: a staff member supervises each enrolled child at all times.
Tuberculosis screening A.A.C. R9-5-301(F); R9-3-301(A)(3) Centers · Group child care homes Centers: since August 2025 each staff member turns in ADHS's tuberculosis self-screening form by the first day and follows any recommendation for further testing.
Illness, exclusion and communicable disease notice A.A.C. R9-5-515; R9-3-307 Centers · Group child care homes A child who shows signs of illness or infestation is separated and the parent is called to pick up; the call is documented and kept 12 months.
Injuries, deaths and notifying ADHS A.A.C. R9-5-514(G); R9-5-301(K); R9-3-310(D)-(E) Centers · Group child care homes Centers: if a child's accident or injury needs medical treatment, notify the parent AND ADHS immediately, and document what happened and when the parent was told (kept 12 months after the child leaves).
Reporting suspected abuse or neglect A.A.C. R9-5-307; R9-3-308; A.R.S. § 13-3620 Centers · Group child care homes Staff report suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Child Safety or law enforcement and send written documentation within 3 calendar days; suspected abuse by a staff member is also reported to ADHS.
Alcohol, drugs, firearms and smoking A.A.C. R9-5-301(H); R9-5-501(B)(2)-(3); A.R.S. § 36-894 Centers No alcohol, misused controlled substances or firearms on center premises or in vehicles while children are present, no marijuana anywhere in a facility, and no smoking or vaping except in designated areas away from…

Facility, equipment and hazards

Chemicals and cleaning supplies locked away from children and food A.A.C. R9-5-501(A)(12)-(14), (18)-(20) Centers
Playground fence 4 ft, gaps under 4 in, gates closed; 6 in of resilient surfacing in fall zones; shade A.A.C. R9-5-603 Centers
Smoke detectors tested monthly and logged; extinguisher serviced in last 12 months A.A.C. R9-5-605; R9-5-601(6) Centers
Current fire inspection and annual gas inspection reports on site A.A.C. R9-5-309 Centers
Group home: guns unloaded and locked apart from ammunition; blind cords anchored or out of reach A.A.C. R9-3-504(A); R9-3-505 Group child care homes
DES family home hazards A.A.C. R6-5-5210(F)-(H), (M) Family child care No hot tubs or spas, parent permission for water play, direct supervision in any pool area, and developmentally appropriate barriers (locked doors, safety gates) to keep children away from hazardous areas.

Emergency preparedness and drills

Unannounced drill every month at a different time of day, documented A.A.C. R9-5-301(I) Centers
Emergency plan updated in last 12 months; evacuation map posted at each exit A.A.C. R9-5-514(C)-(F) Centers
Group home: monthly unannounced fire drill at a different time each month, logged A.A.C. R9-3-504(E)-(F) Group child care homes
Evacuating infants on floor beds A.R.S. § 36-883.05(D) Centers Centers using floor bedding keep evacuation cribs within 10 feet of an exterior exit and, at the assembly point, account for every infant against the sign-in log and report to the director.

Medication

Signed parent authorization and dose log for every medication; locked storage A.A.C. R9-5-516 Centers
Group home medication rules A.A.C. R9-3-309 Group child care homes Same structure as centers, but authorization must be on ADHS's form, liquids are measured with a proper measuring device, and doses are recorded on that form and kept 12 months.
DES family home medication rules A.A.C. R6-5-5218 Family child care Only the provider gives medication, with signed written parent instructions; nothing expired or out of its original container; prescriptions must carry the date, child's name, dosage and doctor; every dose is logged…

Immunizations

Immunization record or exemption affidavit on file before the first day A.A.C. R9-5-305; R9-3-304 Centers · Group child care homes
Staff immunity statements A.A.C. R9-5-402(A)(5); R9-3-301(A)(4)(b) Centers · Group child care homes Each staff member's file holds a written statement of immunity to measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps and pertussis.
DES family homes A.A.C. R6-5-5219(F) Family child care The provider keeps an immunization record or exemption affidavit for each child in care.

Nutrition and meals

Weekly menu posted; substitutions written on it A.A.C. R9-5-508 Centers
Center food service A.A.C. R9-5-509(C) Centers Lunch and dinner are family-style; children are encouraged but never forced to eat; milk for children over 2 is fat-free or 1% unless the parent asks otherwise; juice is 100% juice, limited to 4 ounces a day under age 6…
Group home: dated weekly menu prepared A.A.C. R9-3-406; R9-3-407 Group child care homes
Infant feeding A.A.C. R9-5-502(C)(3)-(4); R9-3-403(A)(3) Centers · Group child care homes Feed according to the parent's current written instructions (posted in centers); hold infants under 6 months (and older infants who cannot hold a bottle) to feed; never prop bottles or warm them in a microwave; label…

Safe sleep and naps

Infants on their backs in bare cribs; never asleep in car seats, swings or playpens A.A.C. R9-5-502(A)(8)-(10), (B)(6)-(7), (C)(1)(g), (C)(1)(j) Centers
Center naps for all ages A.A.C. R9-5-511 Centers Each napping child has a separate cot, mat or crib with a clean sheet (laundered weekly or when soiled), sleeps alone, with 18-inch aisles between rows, no bunk beds or waterbeds, no TV on, and a staff member awake and…
Group home sleep A.A.C. R9-3-402; R9-3-403(A)(2) Group child care homes Own bed, cot, mat or crib (crib sheets changed daily); no waterbeds, upper bunks or stacked cribs; nothing soft in a crib; infants on their backs, no positioning devices or restraints; a staff member stays awake until…
DES family homes A.A.C. R6-5-5209(G); R6-5-5214 Family child care A bed, cot, mat, crib or playpen for each child who naps, and a safe crib, portable crib, bassinet or playpen for each infant; children under 2 are not confined in a crib, high chair, swing or playpen for more than one…

Discipline and guidance

No separation for children under 3; separation 3 minutes max (10 with staff interaction) A.A.C. R9-5-510 Centers
Suspension and expulsion policy A.A.C. R9-5-302(A)(19) Centers Since August 2025, the center's written statement of services must include its suspension and expulsion policies, with clear expectations and prevention strategies.
Group home discipline A.A.C. R9-3-405 Group child care homes Explain, suggest an alternative and redirect; no corporal punishment and no discipline linked to eating, napping, toileting, medication, restraint, humiliation or fear.
DES family home discipline A.A.C. R6-5-5212 Family child care Only the provider disciplines; no corporal punishment, isolation in closets or other rooms, locking a child out, humiliation, medication or mechanical restraint, or discipline tied to eating, sleeping or toileting.

Records

Current signed Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record for every child, reachable in an evacuation A.A.C. R9-5-304; R9-3-303 Centers · Group child care homes
Staff files A.A.C. R9-5-402; R9-3-301(A)(4)(b) Centers · Group child care homes Each staff file holds contact details, start and end dates, an emergency contact, the immunity statement, the criminal history attestation, fingerprint card and background check copies, TB screening, qualifications and…
Daily infant records and diaper logs A.A.C. R9-5-502(C)(1)(d)-(f); R9-5-503(E) Centers Infant rooms keep a dated, timed daily record for each infant of activities, food, diaper changes and tummy time, kept 12 months and given to the parent on request.
Inspection reports on site A.R.S. § 36-882(Q); A.A.C. R9-5-303(A)(10) Centers Centers keep current ADHS inspection reports at the facility, make them available to parents and post a notice saying where they can be read.

Attendance, sign-in and sign-out

Every arrival and departure timed and signed (or uniquely identified); kept 12 months A.A.C. R9-5-306(A) Centers
Daily roster of children present in each room, including temporary absences A.A.C. R9-5-306(B) Centers
Staff attendance A.A.C. R9-5-301(B)(3)-(4); R9-3-301(A)(4)(d)-(e) Centers · Group child care homes A dated daily attendance record on which each staff member records arrival and departure times (group homes: start and end of providing care), kept 12 months.
Group home: time plus first initial and last name for every sign-in and sign-out A.A.C. R9-3-305 Group child care homes
DES family homes A.A.C. R6-5-5219(A) Family child care A daily attendance log on a DES-approved form, with each child signed in and out by the parent or a person the parent designated in writing.

Transportation and field trips

Vehicle: car seats, first aid kit, water, child list and emergency records on board A.A.C. R9-5-517 Centers
Field trip headcount at departure, arrival, every hour, before leaving and on return A.A.C. R9-5-518 Centers
Group home trips and driving A.A.C. R9-3-408 Group child care homes Written parent permission (up to 12 months) for school runs and field trips; vehicles registered, insured, with heat, air conditioning, first aid kit and towels; drivers 18 or older and licensed; car seats per A.R.S. §…
DES family homes A.A.C. R6-5-5216 Family child care Written parent permission before transporting; the driver has a valid Arizona license, insurance and no DUI conviction in the past three years; the vehicle is mechanically safe (brakes, lights, tires); car seats or seat…

Inspections and enforcement

How often ADHS inspects A.R.S. § 36-885; § 36-897.02(F); § 36-897.05 Centers · Group child care homes By statute, ADHS makes at least one unannounced visit a year to every center and monitors every group home at least twice a year.
Statement of Deficiencies and corrections ADHS Child Care Survey Process; A.R.S. § 36-891(F) Centers · Group child care homes After a survey ADHS sends a Statement of Deficiencies; the director or provider has 10 days to send a Written Document of Correction.
Civil penalties A.R.S. § 36-891; § 36-897.06 Centers · Group child care homes ADHS may fine up to $100 per violation, and each day is a separate violation, weighing repeat violations, patterns, severity, harm, number of children affected and facility size.
Intermediate sanctions and injunctions A.R.S. § 36-891.01; § 36-897.08; § 36-886.01 Centers · Group child care homes When children's health or safety is endangered, ADHS may immediately stop new admissions, end specific services or reduce capacity until the program is back in substantial compliance, and may ask the county attorney or…
Operating without a license or certificate A.R.S. § 36-886; § 36-897.09 Centers · Group child care homes ADHS sends a notice to stop; anyone still operating 10 days later commits a class 1 misdemeanor.
DES complaints A.A.C. R6-5-5224 Family child care DES investigates complaints about certified family homes, may inspect the home and records and interview household members, and makes information on valid complaints available on request.

Denials, revocations and appeals

Denial, suspension or revocation of a center license A.R.S. § 36-888; A.A.C. R9-5-210 Centers ADHS must mail notice of the right to a hearing at least 30 days before denying, suspending or revoking a license, stating the facts and the rule broken.
Fast hearing on sanctions A.R.S. § 36-891.01(C) Centers · Group child care homes A program ordered to stop admissions, cut capacity or end services may request a hearing in writing within 10 days (group homes by certified mail); the Office of Administrative Hearings must hold it within 7 business…
Group home certificate actions and penalty appeals A.A.C. R9-3-207; A.R.S. § 36-897.06(A) Group child care homes ADHS may deny, suspend or revoke a group home certificate for similar reasons, including being the parent or guardian of a child adjudicated dependent.
DES family homes A.R.S. § 46-807(C) Family child care DES gives written notice of a proposed denial, suspension or revocation, and the provider may request a hearing.

Arizona daycare self-inspection checklist

Recent changes (2024-2026)

Who needs a license, and from whom

Staff-to-child ratios

Group size and space

Staff qualifications

Background checks and fingerprint clearance cards

Training

Health and safety

Facility, equipment and hazards

Emergency preparedness and drills

Medication

Immunizations

Nutrition and meals

Safe sleep and naps

Discipline and guidance

Records

Attendance, sign-in and sign-out

Transportation and field trips

Inspections and enforcement

Denials, revocations and appeals

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