Colorado Department of Human Services,
Division of Child Care
www.cdhs.state.co.us/childcare/Licensing_home.htm
Phone: (303) 866-5958 or 1-800-799-5876 for Licensing information
The Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, is the State's lead agency in planning and implementing public child care policy. The Division of Child Care is responsible for the licensing and monitoring of child care facilities; managing the child care assistance program (CCCAP) for eligible families; administering child care grants and quality initiatives, and serving as the lead in implementing federal child care programs.
At what point is a child care license required?
When child care is provided for children from more than one family unrelated to the provider.
What types of child care are exempt from licensing regulations?
A child care license is not required for:
- A special school or class in which more than 50 percent of the time that children are present is spent in religious instruction. Religious instruction is defined to include such activities as worship, singing religious songs, listening to religious stories, learning and practicing religious cultural activities, and participating in religious celebrations.
- A child care center operated in connection with a church, shopping center, or business where children are cared for during short periods of time while parents or persons in charge of such children are attending church services, shopping, or patronizing the business. This facility must be operated on the premises of the church, business, or shopping center. Only children of parents or guardians who are attending a church activity or patronizing the business or shopping center can be cared for in the center. Children of the employees of the church, shopping center, or business cannot be enrolled.
- Occasional care of children with or without compensation, which means the offering of child care infrequently and irregularly.
- A family care home in which less than 24-hour care is given for only one child or two or more children who are siblings from the same family household at any one time.
- A child care facility that is approved, certified, or licensed by any other state department or agency, or by a federal government department or agency, which has standards for operation of the facility and inspects or monitors the facility.
- The medical care of children in nursing homes.
- Ski area guest child care facilities as defined at Sections 26-6-102(5) and 26-6-103.5. C.R.S.
Colorado Rules and Regulations Governing the Health and Sanitation of Child Care Facilities http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/regulations/consumer/10100
childcaresanitarystandards.pdf
Child care centers as defined in 26-6-102(1.5), 2.5)(a), (5), (5.1), (8), (9), (10)(a), C.R.S., are licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care (DHS-DCC). However, these licensed child care facilities are required to have an inspection by the state or local health department and comply with the Regulations Governing the Health and Sanitation of Child Care Facilities in the State of Colorado prior to licensing and at least once every two years of operation. Certain child care facility types not licensed by DHS-DCC, such as Head Start programs, are subject to Retail Food Establishment licensing by CDPHE or the local health department if they serve food to the children in care. |
