Child care center facilities and community-based Family Child Care Home businesses are both heavily regulated under North Carolina laws and overseen by the Division of Child Development and Early Education (NCDHHS).
Getting a child care facility license requires the completion of an extensive licensing workshop with the NCDHHS. Before a license is considered, the operator of the facility must meet with consultants to review child care laws and guidelines, discuss intended floor plans, and start completing the necessary paperwork.
Afterward, the operator can undergo a review to ensure they’ve met all the requirements. They may be issued a full license, granted a provisional license that requires the correction of certain issues, or have their application denied altogether. Once approved, the NCDHHS will have at least two unannounced visits to the center in order to ensure continued compliance.
Common rules governing facilities require safety practices in both indoor and outdoor environments as well as strict staff-to-child ratios. Daycare centers are also generally expected to “exercise ordinary care” as a “reasonable person” in their profession would in order to prevent child harm.