Connecticut Home Daycare Inspection Checklist

The OEC licensing specialist who inspects your home isn't just checking the playroom. They walk every room in the house — bedrooms, bathrooms, garage, basement — looking for hazards that could affect children even in spaces you don't plan to use for care. That scope catches people off guard more than any single code requirement.

How the Inspection Works

The OEC schedules your pre-licensing inspection after clearing your background checks and reviewing your application. You'll know the date in advance for the initial visit. After licensure, inspections shift to unannounced — at least one per year, plus follow-ups if violations are cited.

The specialist evaluates your home against the physical plant standards in RCSA Section 19a-87b. Results, including any violations and corrective action plans, are published on the state eLicensing database for the past five years.

Room-by-Room Standards

Every Room Used for Care

• Two remote, safe means of escape (typically a door and a window)
• Basement window egress: minimum 5.7 square feet of clear opening, at least 20 inches wide, at least 24 inches high, sill no more than 44 inches above the floor
• Latch height on escape windows: no higher than 54 inches
• All outlets covered or tamper-resistant
• No exposed cords, dangling blind cords, or accessible choking hazards
• Adequate lighting and ventilation

Kitchen and Food Prep Areas

• Cleaning supplies and chemicals stored in locked or child-inaccessible cabinets
• Hot water temperature between 60°F and 120°F at every tap children can access
• Separate handwashing area or protocol before food handling
• Trash cans with secure lids

Sleep Areas

• Individual CPSC-compliant crib for each infant — no drop-side rails, no cribs manufactured before June 28, 2011
• Firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet only — no blankets, pillows, bumper pads, stuffed animals, or positioning devices
• Cribs spaced so air circulates freely; no cribs next to windows with blinds or cords
• Cots or mats for older children, cleaned and stored between uses

Bathroom and Diaper Changing

• Diaper changing surface at a convenient height with a washable, non-absorbent cover
• Handwashing supplies (soap, running warm water, individual towels or paper towels) within arm's reach of the changing area
• Toilet step stools and child-sized seats available
• Medications and personal care items locked or stored out of reach

Outdoor Play Area

• Fencing at least 4 feet high enclosing the full play yard
• Gate latches operable by adults but not small children
• No standing water, exposed tree roots, or broken equipment
• Ground cover under climbing structures (mulch, rubber matting)
• Pools and water features secured to prevent access; in-ground pools fully enclosed with an approved safety fence, separate from the play area

Fire Safety Requirements

The local fire marshal may inspect separately from the OEC specialist, depending on your municipality:

• Smoke detectors on every level and in every room used for sleeping
• Carbon monoxide alarms on each occupied level when the home uses combustible fuel
• Fire extinguisher mounted no higher than 5 feet, current inspection tag
• Two clear exit routes from the home, practiced with children
• Auxiliary heaters added after original construction must be inspected and approved as required; no heating device may pose a hazard to children
• Heating vents, radiators, and fireplaces screened or guarded

Water and Environmental Testing

• Lead-safe water test results on file (public water or private well)
• Private well water: annual bacterial and chemical testing by a state-certified lab
• Pre-1978 homes: lead paint assessment — hazards require an abatement plan before licensure

What Happens If You Fail

A failed inspection produces a corrective action plan with specific items to fix and a deadline for a follow-up visit. It doesn't end your application — most deficiencies are fixable (a missing outlet cover, a fire extinguisher mounted too high). Serious structural failures (inadequate egress, active lead hazards) can delay licensure by weeks or months.

The Connecticut Home Daycare License Process Guide includes a printable self-audit checklist that mirrors the OEC's inspection criteria, room by room, so you can catch and fix issues before the specialist ever walks through your door.

See more Connecticut guides →