Daycare Facilities

The City of Columbia is committed to providing public health services that prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, promote healthy behaviors, prevent injuries and illness, assure the quality and accessibility of health services, monitor the health of the population, provide social services and promote and protect civil rights.

Daycare Facilities

What do I need to do to open a daycare?

Contact the Bureau of Childcare district office
- 1500 Vandiver Drive - Columbia, MO
- 573-882-9399
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services performs required inspections, but is not involved in the process of licensing daycares

Which daycares must be licensed?

Daycare centers
Home daycares caring for more than 4 children that are not related to the caregiver

Which daycares are inspected?

Licensed home daycares
Daycare centers
Group homes
License-exempt centers

How often are daycares inspected?

Home daycares - 1 time per year
Daycare centers - 3 times per year
- daycare centers are also required to meet Food Code regulations

What is looked for during an inspection?

Compliance with sanitation requirements, such as:
- proper cleaning and sanitization of diaper changing surfaces
- proper handwashing procedures
- testing of water temperatures to prevent scalding

Return to the Environmental Health Division Homepage or return to the Columbia/Boone County Health Department Homepage