DCDEE Child Care Rules (10A NCAC 09) Compliant

North Carolina ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with North Carolina DCDEE Child Care Rules (10A NCAC 09) regulations. Bloomily helps North Carolina childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

No card · Nothing to install · You can't break anything

60-day money-back guaranteeSetup in 15 minutes

North Carolina Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on DCDEE Child Care Rules (10A NCAC 09) requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Written operational policies available

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Staff/child ratios posted in each classroom

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Physical Environment

Indoor space meets minimum (25-30 sq ft per child)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Outdoor play area adequate and safe

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0602

Temperature maintained appropriately

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Napping equipment clean and appropriate

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0602

Health Practices

Health checks performed at arrival

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Medications stored and administered properly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0803

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Safety Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Smoke detectors working

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(5)

Shelter-in-place drills quarterly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8)

Lockdown drills quarterly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8)

Drill records include date, time, duration, signature

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Emergency preparedness plan posted

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0607

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Staff Requirements

Criminal background checks current for all staff

Ref: GS 110-90.2

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0705

CPR certification current (all caregivers)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1102

First Aid certification current

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1102

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

ITS-SIDS training completed (infant caregivers)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1102

Staff qualifications on file

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0706

Child Records

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Emergency contact information current

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Immunization records on file

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Health assessment documented

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Attendance records maintained

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Supervision

Children supervised at all times

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1801

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Infants under 12 mo separate from 2+ years

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Multi-age group plans documented (if applicable)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Inspection reports posted visibly for parents

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

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

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on North Carolina DCDEE Child Care Rules (10A NCAC 09) requirements

Licensing(6)Physical Environment(9)Health Practices(7)Safety Practices(9)Staff Requirements(7)Child Records(7)Supervision(5)

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Licensing

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Licensing

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Licensing

Written operational policies available

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Licensing

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Licensing

Staff/child ratios posted in each classroom

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Licensing

Indoor space meets minimum (25-30 sq ft per child)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Physical Environment

Outdoor play area adequate and safe

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0602

Physical Environment

Temperature maintained appropriately

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Physical Environment

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Physical Environment

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Physical Environment

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Physical Environment

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Physical Environment

Napping equipment clean and appropriate

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0601

Physical Environment

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0602

Physical Environment

Health checks performed at arrival

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Health Practices

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Health Practices

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Health Practices

Medications stored and administered properly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0803

Health Practices

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Health Practices

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Health Practices

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Health Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Safety Practices

Smoke detectors working

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Safety Practices

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Safety Practices

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(5)

Safety Practices

Shelter-in-place drills quarterly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8)

Safety Practices

Lockdown drills quarterly

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8)

Safety Practices

Drill records include date, time, duration, signature

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Safety Practices

Emergency preparedness plan posted

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0607

Safety Practices

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0604

Safety Practices

Criminal background checks current for all staff

Ref: GS 110-90.2

Staff Requirements

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0705

Staff Requirements

CPR certification current (all caregivers)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1102

Staff Requirements

First Aid certification current

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1102

Staff Requirements

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Staff Requirements

ITS-SIDS training completed (infant caregivers)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1102

Staff Requirements

Staff qualifications on file

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0706

Staff Requirements

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Child Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Child Records

Immunization records on file

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Child Records

Health assessment documented

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0801

Child Records

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Child Records

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Child Records

Attendance records maintained

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Child Records

Children supervised at all times

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .1801

Supervision

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Supervision

Infants under 12 mo separate from 2+ years

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Supervision

Multi-age group plans documented (if applicable)

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0713

Supervision

Inspection reports posted visibly for parents

Ref: 10A NCAC 09 .0302

Supervision

Track your North Carolina compliance digitally

Bloomily keeps your checklist updated, tracks staff certifications, and alerts you before items expire.

No card · Nothing to install · You can't break anything

Cancel anytimeFlat monthly pricingSetup in 10 minutes

North Carolina 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

Georgia South Carolina Tennessee Virginia

Requirements vary by state. Click to view specific licensing requirements.

View All States·Health & Safety Features·Book a Demo

Ready to simplify North Carolina compliance?

Join childcare centers across North Carolina that use Bloomily to stay compliant and save hours every week.

Real-time staff-to-child ratio monitoring

Automated certification expiration alerts

Pre-inspection checklist management

Emergency drill scheduling and tracking

Digital parent communication

Mobile check-in/check-out kiosks

No card · Nothing to install · You can't break anything

60-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.