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Daycare Homes

The State Fire Marshal's Office plays an important role in issuing licenses for child care providers, even though the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is the state agency that actually licenses child care providers. If you're not sure what type of license you need to apply for, please contact KDHE or visit them at http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr.

Any home with a licensed daycare or group daycare must be inspected once during the lifetime of the daycare. In addition, basements and second floors must be approved prior to use. Inspections will be done by the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office (KSFMO), your local fire department, or other local jurisdiction. Some fire departments will choose to inspect home daycares once each year. If the daycare has moved to a different home, that home must be inspected as well.

To get an inspection for your home daycare:

  • Contact your local fire department. Many fire departments across the state will inspect daycare homes. If yours does, schedule an inspection time. After your inspection has been completed and approved by the fire department, fill out your Fire/Life Safety Agreement in its entirety and fill in the inspection date.
  • If your local fire department is not able to inspect your home, fill out your Fire/Life Safety Agreement and leave the inspection date blank. Then turn the Fire/Life Safety Agreement in with the rest of your licensing materials. When your licensing materials are received by KDHE, the Fire/Life Safety Agreement will be forwarded to KSFMO and the inspection will be scheduled withour inspectors.
  • If the inspection is for basement or second floor approval and your home has already been inspected for licensure, contact KSFMO directly. We will need a written request to reinspect your home for daycare use.

The inspection will be based on the Home Daycare Checklist, available below. Local jurisdictions can impose more requirements, but the checklist contains the minimum requirements across the State of Kansas.

Fire/Life Safety Agreement
Home Daycare Checklist
Tornado Drill Record
Fire Drill Record

Additional information is available on the following topics:

Fire Fact 004 - Owner/Operator Life Safety Responsibility
Fire Fact 023 - Escape Windows
Fire Fact 028 - Fire Drill Record
Fire Fact 029 - Fire Drill Procedures
Fire Fact 036 - Smoke Detection
Fire Fact 057 - Child Care Homes

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What do I need to renew my license? Some local fire departments may inspect your home each year when you renew your license. For the KSFMO, check to make sure your home complies with everything on the Home Daycare Checklist, make sure you Fire/Life Safety Agreement is posted, and make sure your documentation is up to date. If you need a new Fire/Life Safety Agreement, Home Daycare Checklist, or new Fire and Tornado Drill records, you can download them above.

Is there a fee for your inspection? Although some local jurisdictions may charge a fee for performing an inspection, a fire safety inspection from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office is performed at no charge.

I'm licensed as a home daycare but I operate out of a church. What do I have to do? The Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office will view your home daycare as a Childcare Center or a Preschool. You will need to go through the approval process as one of these facilities and you will be inspected once a year. Click here for more information.

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