MSDE Child Care Center Regulations (COMAR 13A.16) Compliant

Maryland ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with Maryland MSDE Child Care Center Regulations (COMAR 13A.16) regulations. Bloomily helps Maryland childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Maryland Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on MSDE Child Care Center Regulations (COMAR 13A.16) requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Written policies and procedures available

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Physical Environment

Indoor space meets minimum (35 sq ft per child)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Outdoor play area adequate (75 sq ft per child)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Temperature maintained (68-75°F)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Health Practices

Daily health check performed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Safety Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Smoke detectors working

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Severe weather drills quarterly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Lockdown drills semi-annually

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Evacuation drill annually

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Drill records documented properly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Emergency plan posted

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Staff Requirements

CJIS/FBI background check current for all staff

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

CPS clearance completed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

CPR certification current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

First Aid certification current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.08.02

Core of Knowledge training (12 hours/year)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

90-hour pre-service training completed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Health inventory on file

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Maryland Child Care Credential current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Child Records

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Emergency contact information current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Immunization records on file (ImmuNet)

Ref: COMAR 10.06.04

Health Inventory within 30 days of enrollment

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Lead testing documentation on file

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Supervision

Children supervised at all times

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.08.02

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

This checklist is provided for reference only. Always verify requirements with your state licensing agency.

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on Maryland MSDE Child Care Center Regulations (COMAR 13A.16) requirements

Licensing(5)Physical Environment(10)Health Practices(7)Safety Practices(10)Staff Requirements(10)Child Records(6)Supervision(2)

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Licensing

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Licensing

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Licensing

Written policies and procedures available

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Licensing

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.02

Licensing

Indoor space meets minimum (35 sq ft per child)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Outdoor play area adequate (75 sq ft per child)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Temperature maintained (68-75°F)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Physical Environment

Daily health check performed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Health Practices

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Health Practices

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Health Practices

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Health Practices

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Health Practices

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Health Practices

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Health Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Safety Practices

Smoke detectors working

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Safety Practices

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Safety Practices

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Safety Practices

Severe weather drills quarterly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Safety Practices

Lockdown drills semi-annually

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Safety Practices

Evacuation drill annually

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Safety Practices

Drill records documented properly

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10.02

Safety Practices

Emergency plan posted

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.10

Safety Practices

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.07

Safety Practices

CJIS/FBI background check current for all staff

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

CPS clearance completed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

CPR certification current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

First Aid certification current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.08.02

Staff Requirements

Core of Knowledge training (12 hours/year)

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

90-hour pre-service training completed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

Health inventory on file

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

Maryland Child Care Credential current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.06

Staff Requirements

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Child Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Child Records

Immunization records on file (ImmuNet)

Ref: COMAR 10.06.04

Child Records

Health Inventory within 30 days of enrollment

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Child Records

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Child Records

Lead testing documentation on file

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Child Records

Children supervised at all times

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.08.02

Supervision

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: COMAR 13A.16.09

Supervision

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Maryland compliance and operations resources

Health and safety featuresTrack incidents, medication, immunizations, and safety workflows.Ratio calculatorCalculate staff-to-child ratios for your classrooms.Attendance softwareMonitor rosters, ratios, check-in, and pickup in real time.Daycare management softwareRun compliance, attendance, billing, and parent communication together.Daily reports guideImprove parent communication with consistent daily reports.Meal tracking guidePlan meal records, parent updates, and billing connections.

Nearby State Requirements

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