Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 15 - Mississippi Department of Health › Part 11 - Bureau of Child Care Facilities › Subpart 55 - Child Care Facilities Licensure › Chapter 2 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING LICENSURE OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES FOR 12 OR FEWER CHILDREN IN THE OPERATOR'S HOME › Subchapter 11 - BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS › Rule 15-11-55-2.11.1 - Building

Current through June 25, 2024
1. A child care facility shall be physically
					 separated from any other business or enterprise. Other occupants, visitors,
					 and/or employees of other businesses or enterprises within the same building
					 shall not be allowed within the physical confines of the child care facility
					 for the purpose of entering the building or exiting the building, or passing
					 through the child care facility for the purpose of gaining access to another
					 part of the building.
2. All child
					 care facility buildings shall meet all fire safety standards listed on the MSDH
					 Form #333 and all applicable local fire safety standards and/or
					 ordinances.
3. No house trailers,
					 relocatable classrooms, or portable buildings shall be used to house a child
					 care facility unless such structure was originally designed specifically for
					 educational purposes and meets the Mississippi State Department of Education's
					 current standards for a relocatable classroom. Further, such portable structure
					 shall meet all applicable fire safety codes.
Current licensees operating facilities housed in such
						structures are exempted from this provision. Any change of ownership, need for
						major renovation, or other significant change in the facility's status shall
						revoke such exemption.
4.
					 Plans and specifications shall be submitted to the licensing agency for review
					 and approval on all proposed construction and/or major renovations.
5. A separate space shall be provided for the
					 use of an ill or injured child until the child can be picked up by the parent.
					 Space shall be located in an area that is supervised at all times by an
					 employee.
6. Separate space for
					 infants and toddlers shall be provided away from older children except in
					 facilities licensed for 12 or fewer children.
7. Children are not allowed to sleep in
					 shared places, such as infant seats, strollers, swings, cozy areas, or on
					 tables. If a child falls asleep in such shared place, he or she should be moved
					 immediately to a sanitary individual sleeping place.
8. All parts of the child care facility used
					 by children shall be lead-safe, well lighted, ventilated, and free of hazardous
					 or potentially hazardous conditions, such as but not limited to, open stairs
					 and unprotected low windows.
a. All buildings
					 intended for use as a child care facility constructed before 1965 shall be
					 tested for lead. It is the responsibility of the facility applicant/operator to
					 have a lead hazard screen or lead-based paint risk assessment of the facility
					 done by an individual or company certified as a risk assessor by the
					 Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality. If the facility is found not
					 to be lead-safe, it will not be allowed to operate as a child care facility
					 until all required corrective measures have been taken and the facility is
					 determined to be lead-safe by a certified risk assessor.
b. All buildings intended for use as a child
					 care facility, constructed prior to 1978, shall utilize MDEQ Lead Safe
					 Certified individuals or companies for all renovation, repair and maintenance
					 activities which disturb painted surfaces unless the paint to be disturbed has
					 been documented to be lead-free by an individual or company that is MDEQ Lead
					 Safe Certified as a risk assessor or inspector.
NOTE: It is recommended that child care facility
						operators contact the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality at
						601-961-5630 regarding any questions they may have about compliance with the
						laws and regulations related to lead and lead based paint.