District of Columbia Daycare Self-Inspection Checklist (Printable)

Recent changes (2023–2026)

Each teacher, assistant and caregiver meets the 2025 education rule or is inside a documented 2-, 4- or 6-year window 5-A DCMR §§ 164–166, 168, 170, 171, 174, 175 (72 DCR 8518) Centers · Family child care
The court challenge to the degree rule is over Sanchez v. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, 45 F.4th 388 (D.C. Cir. 2022); cert. denied, No. 22-543 (Jan. 9, 2023) Centers · Family child care Child care workers represented by the Institute for Justice challenged the 2016 degree requirement in federal court as unconstitutional.
January 2026: Pay Equity Fund minimum salaries reduced D.C. Code § 1-325.431; Early Childhood Educator Pay Scales Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 Centers · Family child care The Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund pays participating child care employers quarterly so they can pay lead teachers, assistant teachers and home caregivers OSSE's minimum salaries by role and credential.
Proposed, not yet adopted: broader rewrite of the licensing rules Proposed amendments to 5-A DCMR Chapter 1 (D.C. Register, May 17, 2024) Centers · Family child care In May 2024 OSSE proposed a broad update of Chapter 1.
Filter on every drinking water source; lead test this year; results under 5 ppb D.C. Code § 7-2051; 5-A DCMR § 122 Centers · Family child care

Who needs a license, and what kind

Licensed if caring regularly for more than two unrelated children 5-A DCMR §§ 101.3–101.4, 102.1; D.C. Code § 7-2034 Centers · Family child care
Home: 6 children maximum; expanded home: 12 maximum with at least 2 caregivers 5-A DCMR §§ 167.1, 167.3, 167.5, 169.1 Family child care
Care that does not need a license 5-A DCMR § 101.5; D.C. Code § 7-2033 Centers · Family child care No license is needed for occasional babysitting for one family, a nanny paid by the family in the child's home, a nanny share, informal parent-supervised play groups, babysitting at a gym or adult education program…
License posted; renewal filed 90 days before expiration 5-A DCMR §§ 102.7–102.8, 102.11, 108 Centers · Family child care
Operating without a license D.C. Code §§ 7-2046, 7-2034; 5-A DCMR § 116 Centers · Family child care Violating the Act is a crime punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $300 fine, and a repeat conviction by up to 1 year or $5,000.

Staff-to-child ratios

Each room at DC ratio: 1:4 under 30 months, 1:8 to 48 months, 1:10 to 60 months 5-A DCMR § 121.3 Centers
Two staff with every group, including at nap 5-A DCMR §§ 121.8–121.11 Centers
Home: count of children under 2 within the § 121.3 table 5-A DCMR §§ 121.3, 169.2 Family child care
Montessori and other exceptions 5-A DCMR §§ 121.13–121.15 Centers A center accredited by the American Montessori Society or Association Montessori Internationale, or another OSSE-approved non-traditional program, may exceed the center ratio or group size by up to 50%, and mixed-age…

Group size and space

45 sq ft per infant, 35 sq ft per older child indoors; 60 sq ft outdoors 5-A DCMR §§ 122.2, 163.2–163.3, 163.7 Centers
Space in homes and expanded homes 5-A DCMR §§ 167.11–167.16, 169.3 Family child care Homes may use only program space OSSE has approved; kitchens' food preparation areas, bathrooms, hallways, stairways, closets, laundry and storage don't count.

Staff qualifications

Director: bachelor's (EC major or 12 EC credits) and 1 year experience, or waiver on file 5-A DCMR §§ 164.1, 164.3, 164.10 Centers
Every teacher: associate degree route, or CDA plus enrollment within the 4-year window 5-A DCMR §§ 165.1, 165.2, 165.5 Centers
Assistant: 60 credits, CDA, or diploma with CDA within 2 years of hire 5-A DCMR §§ 166.1–166.2, 138 Centers
Home caregiver: CDA or degree; expanded: degree or CDA with 4-year degree plan 5-A DCMR §§ 168.1, 168.3, 170.2–170.3, 171.1 Family child care
Out-of-school-time group leaders 5-A DCMR §§ 174.2, 175.2 Centers A group leader must be at least 18 and have 60 college credits or an associate degree in education or child and youth development, or 48 credits (9 in child and youth development) with 6 months of experience with school…

Background checks

Every staff member and adult household member cleared by OSSE within the last 3 years 5-A DCMR §§ 132.2, 133.1–133.3 Centers · Family child care
Starting work, moving jobs and disqualifying offenses 5-A DCMR §§ 133.5–133.6, 133.9 Centers · Family child care Once the check has been requested, a new hire may work only while supervised at all times by someone with a qualifying check from the last three years.
Results and appeals 5-A DCMR §§ 135.3–135.6 Centers · Family child care OSSE tells the facility only whether the person is eligible or ineligible, without the details.
Written drug and alcohol testing policy, signed by each staff member 5-A DCMR §§ 134, 136 Centers · Family child care

Training hours

New staff: pre-service in 30 days, orientation in 90 days 5-A DCMR §§ 139.2–139.4 Centers · Family child care
Annual hours: 21 center, 15 expanded home, 12 home 5-A DCMR §§ 139.6–139.7 Centers · Family child care
First aid and CPR 5-A DCMR §§ 150.1–150.2 Centers · Family child care All staff must hold current first aid and CPR certification for the ages served, and at least two certified staff must be on the premises at all times.
Transportation training 5-A DCMR § 139.5 Centers · Family child care Before transporting children, staff need training in transportation rules, including showing the director how to do a vehicle passenger check, child restraint use, loading and unloading, first aid supplies and vehicle…

Health and safety

Every staff member can state how many children are in their care 5-A DCMR §§ 120.1, 120.4–120.5 Centers · Family child care
Unusual incidents sent to OSSE immediately, copy to parents 5-A DCMR §§ 128.1–128.3 Centers · Family child care
Reporting suspected abuse or neglect 5-A DCMR §§ 128.5–128.6 Centers · Family child care Any staff member who suspects a child is abused or neglected must report immediately to the Child and Family Services Agency hotline (202-671-SAFE) and the Metropolitan Police Department, and follow up in writing if…
Sick children and staff 5-A DCMR §§ 151.1–151.2, 118.4 Centers · Family child care A child with symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting twice in 24 hours, a rash with fever, a sore throat with fever, or a fever with other symptoms may not attend that day.
Staff health 5-A DCMR § 137 Centers · Family child care Staff need a physical exam at least yearly with a signed statement that they are free of tuberculosis and other communicable diseases and can care for children.

Facility, furniture and hazards

No walkers, crib gyms, playpens or projectile toys; helmets on riding toys 5-A DCMR §§ 126.3, 126.5, 126.9 Centers · Family child care
Stair gates, window stops under 6 inches, cordless blinds, outlet covers 5-A DCMR §§ 122.12, 122.15, 124.10 Centers · Family child care
Playgrounds and fences 5-A DCMR §§ 125.6, 125.14, 125.20 Centers · Family child care An on-site outdoor play space must be fenced at least 4 feet high with no more than 3½ inches between the bottom and the ground.
Lead, hot water and pests 5-A DCMR §§ 122.8, 122.18, 122.21 Centers · Family child care The facility must be free of lead-based paint hazards and follow the lead-in-drinking-water law (see Recent changes).
No smoking with children present; home firearms unloaded, locked, parents told 5-A DCMR §§ 142.3–142.4, 142.7, 167.7–167.8 Centers · Family child care

Emergency preparedness

Monthly fire drill logged; evacuation drills twice a year; smoke detector tests quarterly 5-A DCMR §§ 122.22–122.24, 148.1–148.2 Centers · Family child care
Posted emergency plan reviewed this year; AlertDC; 3-day supplies 5-A DCMR §§ 148.4–148.10 Centers · Family child care
Evacuating infants and children who can't walk 5-A DCMR §§ 148.3, 148.11–148.12, 163.3 Centers · Family child care Facilities must have a written procedure for evacuating infants, toddlers and children who can't walk, with one evacuation crib for every four non-ambulatory children at street level or one for every two if OSSE has…
Contingency location 5-A DCMR §§ 129.2(h), 168 Centers · Family child care Each facility must keep a current, notarized building use agreement for a contingency location it can move to if its own site becomes unavailable.

Medication

Parent form plus practitioner approval for every medicine; trained staff only 5-A DCMR §§ 153.1–153.2, 153.8 Centers · Family child care
Medication log and records 5-A DCMR §§ 153.5–153.7 Centers · Family child care Every dose goes in a medication log on an OSSE-approved form, with the date, time, medicine, dose, method and who gave it.
Storage and self-administration 5-A DCMR §§ 153.10–153.12 Centers · Family child care Medicines must be in their original containers, labeled with the child's name, dose and expiration date, refrigerated at 36°F to 46°F when required, and disposed of properly or returned to parents.

Immunizations and health records

Current Universal Health Certificate and oral exam for every child 5-A DCMR §§ 152.1, 152.3, 152.7–152.8 Centers · Family child care
Religious and medical exemptions 5-A DCMR §§ 152.10–152.13 Centers · Family child care A child may be exempt from immunizations if a parent has a good-faith religious objection (documented in writing to the facility) or a health care provider documents that a vaccine is medically inadvisable.
Lead testing for children under 6 5-A DCMR § 152.4 Centers · Family child care Parents of children under 6 must document blood lead tests at 6 to 14 months and again at 22 to 26 months, or two screenings before age 6 if the child wasn't tested by 26 months.

Nutrition and feeding

Posted CACFP menus kept 3 years; Food Protection Manager on site at meals 5-A DCMR §§ 155.2–155.4, 155.14–155.15 Centers · Family child care
Allergies and special diets 5-A DCMR §§ 155.7–155.10 Centers · Family child care Facilities must get each child's dietary restrictions and food allergies at enrollment and update them yearly, tell all food staff orally and in writing, and serve a therapeutic diet only with the parent's written…
Infant feeding 5-A DCMR § 156.2 Centers · Family child care Bottles must be labeled with the child's name and date and refrigerated.

Safe sleep and naps

Infants on backs, nothing soft in the crib, no propped bottles 5-A DCMR §§ 146.1–146.3 Centers · Family child care
Cribs, cots and the written sleep policy 5-A DCMR §§ 126.14–126.17, 127.4(p) Centers · Family child care Every child in a full-day program gets their own crib, cot or bed with their own bedding, labeled with their name, spaced 2 feet from other cribs or cots, windows and radiators.

Discipline and guidance

No physical punishment, shaming or withholding food; time-away in sight of staff 5-A DCMR §§ 141.1–141.6 Centers · Family child care
Screen time 5-A DCMR §§ 143.5–143.6 Centers · Family child care Children under 2 may not watch TV or videos unless a staff member is actively interacting with them during it.

Records

Complete child file for every child; kept 3 years after the child leaves 5-A DCMR §§ 130.1–130.3 Centers · Family child care
Staff records 5-A DCMR §§ 131.1–131.5 Centers · Family child care Staff files must hold contact information and a current photo, the job description, background check results, résumé, references and copies of degrees or transcripts, orientation, professional development and health and…
Facility records and postings 5-A DCMR §§ 129.1–129.3, 129.7 Centers · Family child care Keep at the facility the certificate of occupancy or home occupation permit, fire inspection, lead clearance, Clean Hands certificate, insurance (including sexual abuse and molestation liability), the contingency-site…
Parent policies and access 5-A DCMR §§ 127.2–127.5 Centers · Family child care Parents must have access to their child, and to all areas their child uses, at all times while the child is there.

Sign-in, sign-out and pickup

Daily sign-in/sign-out by full name and middle initial 5-A DCMR § 130.8 Centers · Family child care
Authorized pickups and children who travel alone 5-A DCMR §§ 130.2(h), 130.2(o) Centers · Family child care Each child's record must name the people authorized to receive the child at the end of the day.

Transportation and outings

Parent permission; car seats; CPR-certified adult aboard; no child left in a vehicle 5-A DCMR §§ 158.5, 158.12, 158.15, 158.18, 158.22 Centers · Family child care
Outings and field trips 5-A DCMR §§ 130.5–130.6, 150.8 Centers · Family child care Regular outings such as walks to a playground need a signed, dated parent authorization on file; other field trips need a separate written authorization with departure and return times.

Inspections and enforcement

Annual documents current and ready for the unannounced visit 5-A DCMR §§ 111.1, 111.5–111.6; D.C. Code § 7-2043 Centers · Family child care
What the public can see 5-A DCMR § 111.9 Centers · Family child care OSSE must publish, for each licensed facility, the dates and results of inspections, any corrective action, substantiated complaints and the number of deaths, serious injuries and substantiated child abuse cases.
Enforcement actions 5-A DCMR §§ 107, 112.1, 113.1–113.2 Centers · Family child care OSSE can deny an initial or renewal license, issue a restricted license (up to 30 days, no new enrollments while it lasts), suspend or revoke a license, order a facility to cease and desist, impose civil fines, and…
Summary suspension and cease-and-desist orders 5-A DCMR §§ 114–115; D.C. Code §§ 7-2041, 7-2042 Centers · Family child care If a violation poses an imminent danger to children, OSSE can suspend a license immediately, before a hearing.

Waivers, hearings and appeals

Hearing request to OAH within 10 business days of a notice 5-A DCMR §§ 112.6(f)–(g), 117.1 Centers · Family child care
Court appeal 5-A DCMR § 117.5; D.C. Code § 7-2045 Centers · Family child care A final OAH decision can be appealed to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Waivers 5-A DCMR § 106 Centers · Family child care A facility may ask OSSE in writing to waive one or more provisions of the chapter.

District of Columbia daycare self-inspection checklist

Recent changes (2023–2026)

Who needs a license, and what kind

Staff-to-child ratios

Group size and space

Staff qualifications

Background checks

Training hours

Health and safety

Facility, furniture and hazards

Emergency preparedness

Medication

Immunizations and health records

Nutrition and feeding

Safe sleep and naps

Discipline and guidance

Records

Sign-in, sign-out and pickup

Transportation and outings

Inspections and enforcement

Waivers, hearings and appeals

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