Licensing: Child Care Facilities

Last updated: November 4th, 2026 at 2:01pm

Child Care Licensing

Licensing Officers inspect, license, and monitor more than 1,000 licensed child care facilities across Island Health.

Child care refers to the supervision and care provided to children through approved programs. Licensing Officers help ensure child care facilities meet licensing requirements and provide safe, quality care for children and families.

Care is defined as supervision that is provided to a child through a prescribed program.

Categories of care include:

Licensing Officers conduct regular routine inspections and at each inspection they leave an inspection report outlining the licensees’ compliance with the requirements of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, Child Care Licensing Regulation and the Director of Licensing Standards of Practice. 

For more information about an inspection visit the Inspection and Investigation Reports website.

Individuals providing care to more than two persons, not related to them are required to be licensed, and must provide care in a licensed community care facility.

Filing a Complaint

Director of Licensing Standards of Practice

Director of Licensing Standards of Practice
Water Safety 
Contact your local Licensing Office

Inspection Checklists

Child Care Inspection Checklist - Initial Inspection
Child Care Inspection Checklist - Routine Inspection 

Child Care Newsletter
Child Care Bulletin 

Heat Preparedness Bulletin 2026

Heat Preparedness Bulletin 2025

Heat Preparedness Bulletin 2023 

Heat Preparedness Bulletin 2022


Submitting Reportable Incidents Online

For current information about submitting incident reports, please see Incident Reporting.

Emergency Preparedness Information

Introduction to the Disaster Plan
52 Weeks to Emergency Preparedness
All Hazard Emergency Preparedness Workbook 
Staff Self Education
Self Education Test
Disaster Plan Template
Emergency Quick Reference
Grab and Go Bags

General Information on Licensing: Child Care Facilities

Referral Required?
Not required