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
Follow Us: