Idaho Home Daycare Inspection Checklist

Idaho requires two separate physical inspections before issuing a daycare license — one from your local fire department and one from your regional Public Health District. Both inspections evaluate your home against specific state standards, and failing either one delays your license timeline by weeks.

This checklist covers the major items inspectors look for, organized by the two inspection categories. Use it as a self-audit before scheduling.

Fire Safety Inspection

Your local fire department or fire district conducts this inspection. Fees range from $20 (Idaho Falls) to $80 (Boise), and scheduling varies by department.

Extinguishers and Detection

• ABC-rated fire extinguisher (minimum 2A:10BC, 5 lb.) mounted on every level where childcare occurs
• Extinguisher functional and serviced, with a current service tag
• Smoke detectors installed and functional in all sleep and play areas
• Carbon monoxide detectors on each level (required if you have gas appliances or an attached garage)

Exits and Egress

• Two direct, unobstructed emergency exits on every floor used for childcare
• Exit doors must open without special knowledge or tools (no deadbolts requiring a key from inside)
• Childcare is prohibited on second stories or in basements unless those levels have approved direct egress exits (typically a door to grade level or an egress window meeting fire code dimensions)
• Exit paths clear of furniture, stored items, and tripping hazards

Fire Safety Plan

• Written Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan posted in a visible location
• The plan must include evacuation routes for each room used for childcare, a designated outdoor meeting point, and procedures for accounting for all children after evacuation
• Fire drills must be documented — inspectors may ask to see your drill log

Additional Items

• No space heaters in rooms used for childcare (unless permanently installed and approved by the fire marshal)
• Electrical panels accessible and not blocked by shelving or equipment
• Extension cords not used as permanent wiring

Health and Safety Inspection

Conducted by your regional Public Health District sanitarians. The $100 state licensing fee is collected at this stage. Allow 7–21 days for inspection scheduling and completion; timing varies by district.

Kitchen and Food

• Refrigerator at 41°F or below with a visible internal thermometer
• Hot water at handwashing stations (kitchen and bathroom sinks accessible to children)
• Food stored off the floor in covered, labeled containers
• Separate storage for children's food and allergen-sensitive items
• No expired food in refrigerator or pantry

Chemical and Medication Security

• All cleaning products, chemicals, pesticides, and sanitizers stored in locked cabinets
• Medications (including over-the-counter products like Tylenol and Benadryl) in locked storage
• Storage must be locked and inaccessible to children; confirm with your Public Health District whether a particular latch meets its standard

Firearms and Weapons

• All firearms and ammunition secured in a locked gun safe
• Knives, scissors, and sharp tools stored out of children's reach

Sleep Areas

• Cribs meeting current CPSC standards (no drop-side cribs)
• Firm, flat mattress with fitted sheet only — no blankets, pillows, bumpers, or stuffed animals in cribs for infants under 12 months
• No stacking cribs
• Caregiver must have both visual and auditory access to sleeping children — no closed doors between you and sleeping infants

Outdoor Play Areas

• Enclosed play area with fencing in good repair
• 4-foot self-locking fence around any pool, hot tub, or water feature
• Removal of poisonous plants from play areas
• Lawn chemicals, equipment, and tools stored in a locked shed or garage inaccessible to children
• Play structures appropriate for the ages served, with adequate fall zones

Water Supply

• If on municipal water: no testing required
• If on private well: Coliform and Nitrate/Nitrite testing required before licensure (costs vary by district — about $207 through Central District Health)

Common Failure Points

The items that actually fail providers tend to be quick fixes, not structural problems:

1. Unlocked chemical storage — the most common single finding. Buy a $15 cabinet lock.
2. Refrigerator temperature — thermometers get bumped or removed. Put one in the day before inspection.
3. Missing or expired fire extinguisher service tag — the extinguisher works fine, but the service tag is not current.
4. Medications in an open bathroom cabinet — move them to a locked box.
5. Extension cords as permanent wiring — especially in playrooms where providers have added lighting.

A failed inspection may require a follow-up visit; timing and fees vary by district. Eastern Idaho Public Health, for example, charges a $75 re-inspection fee for critical violations.

The Idaho Home Daycare License guide includes a room-by-room diagnostic audit that expands on this checklist with specific IDAPA code references and preparation tips for each of Idaho's seven Public Health Districts.

See more Idaho guides →