Utah Daycare Self-Inspection Checklist (Printable)

Recent changes (2024–2026)

If you have cameras: written notice to parents, posted signs, written video policy Utah Admin. Code R381-100-25 Centers
Immunization records updated for school-age children Utah Admin. Code R381-100-6(13)–(14); R381-70-6; R430-50-6(12)–(13); R430-90-6(12)–(13) Centers · Family child care · School-age programs To meet a condition of Utah's 2025–2027 federal Child Care and Development Fund plan, the state rewrote the immunization-record rules so they cover school-age children too.
Center kitchens may be exempt from food-establishment rules Utah Code § 26B-7-417 (H.B. 379, 2026) Centers H.B. 379 (2026 General Session, effective May 6, 2026) tells DHHS to write rules, with child care provider associations, that exempt a licensed center's kitchen from the general food service establishment rules when it…
Licensing division section renumbered Utah Code § 26B-2-901 (H.B. 472, 2026) Centers · Family child care H.B. 472 (2026 General Session, Laws of Utah 2026, chapter 153, effective May 6, 2026) moved the statute that creates the Division of Licensing and Background Checks to § 26B-2-901.
Bill to raise the unregulated home limit did not pass S.B. 214 (2026, not passed) Family child care S.B. 214, Home-based Child Care Solutions, would have created a registration category and start-up grants for home providers and raised the number of children allowed without a certificate or license.
All child care rules reenacted (May 2025) Utah Admin. Code R380-600; R381-100-8; R430-90-8 Centers · Family child care · School-age programs Effective May 8, 2025, Utah repealed and reenacted R381-40, R381-60, R381-70, R381-100, R430-50 and R430-90, and amended R430-8 and R380-600.
Home certificate made optional for 8 or fewer children (2024) Utah Code §§ 26B-2-403 to -406; H.B. 153 (2024) Family child care H.B. 153, Child Care Revisions (2024 General Session, signed March 14, 2024), changed the home-care thresholds now in the statute (current text effective May 1, 2024): a home provider needs a license for 9 or more…
Updated enforcement guidance Office of Licensing guidelines for corrective actions and civil money penalties (August 2026) Centers · Family child care · School-age programs The Office of Licensing revised its published guidance on how it chooses between technical assistance, warnings, citations, civil money penalties and license action (revised August 2026).

Who needs a license, and what kind

Licensed under the right rule (center, preschool, hourly or out-of-school-time) Utah Admin. Code R381-100-3; Utah Code § 26B-2-403(1)(a) Centers
Home: licensed at 9+ unrelated children; never more than 10 under 13 without a license Utah Admin. Code R430-90-3, R430-50-3; Utah Code §§ 26B-2-403(1)(b), -404 Family child care
Exempt programs: annual exempt application and posted exempt notice Utah Code § 26B-2-405; Utah Admin. Code R430-8-3 to -5 Centers · Family child care
License posted; renewal filed 30 days before expiration Utah Admin. Code R380-600-3 Centers · Family child care
Parent Guide posted or given to parents; liability insurance or written notice Utah Admin. Code R381-100-4, R381-100-6 Centers

Staff-to-child ratios

Ratios: 0–11 mo 1:4; 12–17 mo 1:4; 18–23 mo 1:5; 2s 1:8; 3s 1:12; 4s 1:15; 5+ 1:20 Utah Admin. Code R381-100-10(1) Centers
Mixed-age groups and nap time Utah Admin. Code R381-100-10(2)–(5) Centers In a mixed group without infants or toddlers, the ratio is set by the oldest child's age minus one child, and the group size by the oldest child's age minus two.
Home: 1 caregiver per 8 (2 for 9–16); max 3 under 2 per caregiver, max 2 under 18 months Utah Admin. Code R430-90-10 Family child care
Residential certificate ratios Utah Admin. Code R430-50-10 Family child care One caregiver for up to 8 children, with the same under-2 limits as licensed family homes: one caregiver for every three children under 2, no more than two under 18 months per caregiver, and a second caregiver if more…
Out-of-school-time 1:20, groups of 40 Utah Admin. Code R381-70-10, R381-40-10, R381-60-10 Centers · School-age programs

Group size and space

Group sizes: infants 8; 12–17 mo 8; 18–23 mo 10; 2s 16; 3s 24; 4s 30; 5+ 40 Utah Admin. Code R381-100-10(1) Centers
35 sq ft indoor and 40 sq ft outdoor per child; 4-foot fence with no 5x5-inch gaps Utah Admin. Code R381-100-9(1)–(4), (15)–(16); R430-90-9 Centers · Family child care

Staff qualifications

Qualified director on site 20 hrs/week; director or designee present all business hours Utah Admin. Code R381-100-7(2)–(8) Centers
Caregivers, other staff and visitors Utah Admin. Code R381-100-7(9)–(15), R381-100-11(2)–(5) Centers Caregivers must be at least 16, complete OL's 2½-hour preservice training before working with children, and review the health assessments (allergies, food sensitivities, needs) of their assigned children.
Home providers Utah Admin. Code R430-90-6(1), R430-90-7(1)–(2); R430-50-6(1), R430-50-7(1)–(2) Family child care Licensed family and residential certificate providers must be at least 18, cleared by a background check and complete OL's new provider training.

Background checks

Every covered individual eligible in the provider portal before contact with children Utah Admin. Code R381-100-8(1)–(6); R430-90-8 Centers · Family child care
Arrests and charges reported to OBP within 48 hours Utah Admin. Code R381-100-8(7)–(18) Centers · Family child care

Training hours

20 training hours per person per year; pediatric first aid/CPR on site, on outings and in vehicles Utah Admin. Code R381-100-7(3), (9), (16)–(21) Centers
Home training Utah Admin. Code R430-90-7(4), (12)–(15); R430-50-7(4) Family child care Licensed family providers and caregivers need 20 hours a year, at least half of it interactive, with the record noting which sessions were interactive.

Health and safety

Caregiver in the room with under-5s; headcount known at all times Utah Admin. Code R381-100-11(1), R430-90-11(1) Centers · Family child care
Illness and disease notices Utah Admin. Code R381-100-15(20)–(23) Centers A center may not accept a child who is ill with an infectious disease.
Handwashing, cleaning and diapering Utah Admin. Code R381-100-15(10)–(19), R381-100-23 Centers · Family child care Post handwashing steps at every sink; staff wash on arrival, after toileting or diapering, before food and after body fluids, and children are taught and helped to wash.

Facility, furniture and hazards

Heavy furniture and TVs secured; outlets capped; hot water ≤120°F; no walkers Utah Admin. Code R381-100-13; R430-90-13 Centers · Family child care
Firearms locked, unloaded, ammunition stored separately Utah Admin. Code R381-100-13(12)–(14); R430-90-13(12)–(14) Centers · Family child care
Building safety Utah Admin. Code R381-100-9(5)–(19), R430-90-9(12)–(15) Centers · Family child care Test pre-1978 buildings and play structures with failing paint for lead and call the health department within five working days if lead is found.
Play equipment Utah Admin. Code R381-100-19 Centers · Family child care Stationary equipment must be stable or anchored and never on concrete, asphalt, dirt or bare floor.

Emergency preparedness

Written emergency plan Utah Admin. Code R381-100-14(1)–(3) Centers · Family child care Write and follow a plan covering evacuation, relocation, shelter in place, lockdown, family communication and reunification, continuity of operations, and children with disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and…
Fire drill quarterly; other disaster drill every 6 months; 12 months of drill records Utah Admin. Code R381-100-14(4)–(9); R430-90-14(4)–(9); R430-50-14(4)–(6) Centers · Family child care
Same-day written injury report to parents; OL report within one business day Utah Admin. Code R381-100-14(10)–(15); R380-600-7(16) Centers · Family child care

Medication

Signed parent form before any medication; per-dose consent for provider-supplied OTC medicine Utah Admin. Code R381-100-17; R430-90-17 Centers · Family child care

Immunizations and health records

Health assessment signed yearly; immunization record or exemption before admission; annual USIIS report Utah Admin. Code R381-100-6(10)–(15) Centers · Family child care

Nutrition and feeding

Week's menu posted; meal or snack every 3 hours Utah Admin. Code R381-100-16 Centers · Family child care
Infant feeding Utah Admin. Code R381-100-24(13)–(17) Centers · Family child care Label baby food, formula and breast milk from home with the child's name and the date and time prepared or opened, refrigerate it, and throw it out within 24 hours.

Safe sleep and naps

Infants on back in a crib, bassinet or playpen; nothing soft in the crib Utah Admin. Code R381-100-24(18)–(20), R381-100-22 Centers · Family child care
Home: sleeping infants observed every 15 minutes or within sight and hearing Utah Admin. Code R381-100-11(6)–(7); R430-90-11(7) Centers · Family child care
Infant feeding/sleep and diaper records within an hour; 6 weeks kept Utah Admin. Code R381-100-24(2)–(12), (21)–(23) Centers

Discipline and guidance

Behavior expectations given to parents and staff; no shouting, corporal punishment or withholding food Utah Admin. Code R381-100-12 Centers · Family child care

Records

Six weeks of attendance, staff hours, incident, medication and infant records on site Utah Admin. Code R381-100-6, -7(21), -11(11), -14(9), -14(14), -16(2), -17(12), -24(23) Centers · Family child care

Sign-in, sign-out and pickup

Sign-in/out with date, time and identifier; written pickup authorization; photo ID for strangers Utah Admin. Code R381-100-11(9)–(11); R430-90-11(10)–(12) Centers · Family child care

Transportation and outings

Signed transport permission; driver 18+ with license; never leave a child in a vehicle Utah Admin. Code R381-100-20 Centers · Family child care
Offsite activities and swimming Utah Admin. Code R381-100-18(7)–(9) Centers · Family child care For each outing, get written parent consent, keep ratios, bring first aid supplies and each child's emergency information and releases, and give each child the center's name and phone number, but never display a child's…

Inspections and enforcement

Inspections Utah Admin. Code R380-600-7 Centers · Family child care OL may make announced and unannounced inspections and must be given immediate, full access to the building, staff, records and children.
Penalties and license actions Utah Admin. Code R380-600-8(2)–(13) Centers · Family child care OL may issue warnings, citations, civil money penalties (CMPs) and plans of correction; increase monitoring; place conditions on, suspend or revoke a license; restrict admissions; or order immediate closure when…
How OL decides on fines Office of Licensing guidelines for corrective actions and civil money penalties (Aug. 2026) Centers · Family child care OL rates each violation as low, moderate, high or extreme risk.
Inspection results are public Utah Admin. Code R380-600-7(11), R380-600-8(4) Centers · Family child care OL posts every citation from every inspection and every substantiated complaint finding on the division website for at least 36 months; any official action against a provider is a public record.

Citations, variances and appeals

Hearing requests within 15 calendar days (5 for emergency actions) Utah Admin. Code R380-600-8(15); R381-100-8(18) Centers · Family child care
Variances Utah Admin. Code R380-600-6 Centers · Family child care The division or OL director may approve a written variance from a rule if it is not likely to put children's health and safety at risk or open the door to abuse or fraud.

Utah daycare self-inspection checklist

Recent changes (2024–2026)

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

Citations, variances and appeals

Email me when Utah's rules change