CHILD CARE CENTERS – CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

City of Arlington, Child Care Centers – Construction Requirements for New & Remodel (Rev 5/15) Page 1 of 4

CHILD CARE CENTERS –

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION & REMODEL

This handout provides information to be used by owners, architects, and contractors wishing to

construct or remodel a child care facility. In order to meet the City of Arlington’s Health Code, these

are requirements are to be used in addition to requirements of other city departments, and do not

replace other department's requirements. At the time of application for a Building Permit, one set of

plans must also be submitted to the Health Division for review; Health, Article V, Section 5.06.

If a Building Permit is not required, a set of plans must be submitted directly to Health Services before

beginning the work. The plans must include the center, kitchen and play equipment and play areas

(both indoor and outdoor). Written comments will be sent to the applicant or general contractor,

outlining any areas of concern and any additional comments concerning the facility and its operation.

It will be necessary for the owner, architect, or contractor to respond to these comments before a

Building Permit will be issued. Please notify Community Development & Planning Department when

the facility is ready for a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) so that an on-site inspection may be

conducted. A Child Care Center Permit will be issued after all requirements have been met and fees

are paid. A Child Care Permit must be obtained before beginning operations, Health, Article V,

Section 5.04 & Section 5.05.

For additional information, please contact our office at:

Community Development & Planning

Health Services

101 W. Abram Street

P.O. Box 90231, Mail Stop 01-0241

Arlington, Texas 76004-3231

Telephone number: 817-459-6502

http://www.arlington-tx.gov/cdp/technical-bulletins/

1. Space And Design

a. The number of persons regularly occupying the building shall not exceed one person (child

or adult) for each thirty-five (35) square feet of building areas as determined by the City of

Arlington’s Building Code.

b. There must be at least thirty (30) square feet of indoor activity space per child.

c. A playground consisting of not less than one hundred (100) square feet of area for each

child occupying the area at one time must be provided.

d. An area must be provided to isolate children with symptoms of communicable disease from

other children at the center.

e. All outer openings must be rodent proof including doors and windows.

City of Arlington, Child Care Centers – Construction Requirements for New & Remodel (Rev 5/15) Page 2 of 4

2. Playground Areas

a. A chain link fence must enclose outdoor play areas not less than six feet (6') in height.

b. Use Zones, previously referred to as Fall Zones, in outdoor play areas must be completely

free of exposed concrete, rock, lumber, or any other obstruction, which could cause injury.

The requirements for Use Zones for playground equipment are too extensive to cover all

the types of equipment and surfacing in this brief document. For more information, consult

the Texas State Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Care Centers,

http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/child_care_standards_and_regulations/ and/or the

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety at

http://www.cpsc.gov/pagefiles/122149/325.pdf Some basic requirements of use zones are

an area extending six feet (6') from climbing structures; six feet (6') from the exit of a slide,

for slides that are 6 ft or less, or the height of the slide up to eight feet maximum for slides

over six feet (other parts of slide are climbing structures); six feet (6') from a merry-go-

round or other revolving devices, where children are sitting, and seven feet (7') if children

are standing or riding, in the front and rear of “to-fro” swings, that is twice the vertical height

from the beam to the protective surface. Use zones should be constructed of wood chips,

small gravel, unitary surfaces or other material designed to effectively absorb shock and

prevent injury.

c. Playground equipment must be constructed with no sharp edges, dangerous protrusions, or

other hazards, and designed to protect against entrapment.

d. All playground equipment installed, modified, or repaired after October 1, 1999, must meet

or exceed the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground

Safety at http://www.cpsc.gov/pagefiles/122149/325.pdf

e. Any pool, pond, or other body of water greater than two feet (2') in depth must be separated

from a playground by a chain link fence no less than six feet (6') in height. The fence must

be constructed to meet all Building Department requirements and must be designed so that

children cannot easily climb over it. Gates of the pool enclosure must be self-closing, self-

latching, and remain locked when not in use.

3. Furnishings

a. Adequate storage must be provided for children's personal articles. Storage areas should

be constructed of smooth, easily cleanable materials with separate space for each child’s

clothing, bags, hats, coats, etc.

4. Sanitation

a. Toilet fixtures and facilities must be provided in accordance with Appendix `C' of the

International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted in the City of Arlington’s Plumbing Code.

(Consult Child Care Licensing for number required.)

b. All adult handwash sinks must be provided with hot and cold water tempered by a mixing

valve, soap, and sanitary towels. Hot water provided to handwashing sinks must not

exceed 120

c. All diaper change areas must be provided with handwash sinks in the immediate area. The

handwash sinks must be equipped with both hot and cold water, tempered by means of a

mixing valve, soap, and sanitary towels.

d. Properly constructed diaper changing stations should be provided. Floor mats are not

adequate changing areas.

e. Toilet facilities, including diaper change areas, must be constructed with smooth, easily

cleanable walls, ceilings, floors, and work surfaces.

f. Permanent signs must be conspicuously posted in restrooms and food service areas

reminding all persons to wash hands.

City of Arlington, Child Care Centers – Construction Requirements for New & Remodel (Rev 5/15) Page 3 of 4

5. Smoke Detectors - Fire Alarm Systems

a. Smoke detectors must be installed to provide an effective warning to the building occupants

of fire in any kitchen area, sleeping area, or any area containing mechanical equipment.

b. An approved fire alarm system must be installed in centers with fifty (50) or more

occupancy according to the City of Arlington’s Fire Code.

c. Fire evacuation and relocation diagrams must be conspicuously posted in all assembly

rooms and classrooms.

6. Food Services

a. A center that prepares or serves food shall comply with the pertinent food service

regulations contained in the City of Arlington’s Health Ordinance, Article IV – Regulation of

Food Establishments (construction requirements attached.) Note: Centers that operate

more than six (6) hours per day are required to provide supplemental food when children

do not have sufficient dietary requirements in their meals.

b. Centers that prepare or serve meals must employee at least one person who is certified by

the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) as a Certified Food Manager

(CFM). See https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/foodestablishments/cfm.shtm#apps

7. Swimming Pools

a. All swimming pools used by children must comply with City of Arlington’s Health Ordinance,

Article VII - Public Swimming Pools that regulates public and semi-public pools; as well as

other City of Arlington Building Codes and applicable state laws.

b. Plans must be submitted on newly constructed or renovated pools.

c. The owner must obtain a permit and pay all required fees.

8. Application

a. The permit application shall state the name, address and telephone number of the permit

applicant, and the name and social security account numbers of all employees and staff

members of the child care center that are in contact with the children.

b. The permit application shall indicate the name and street and mailing address of the child

care center, status of food service provided for children, times of operation and the current

zoning of the property. A site plan shall be submitted, drawn to an accurate scale indicating

the legal description of the property and showing the indoor and outdoor areas to be used

for the child care center.

c. The child care center applicant must have liability insurance coverage in the minimum

amount of $300,000 for each occurrence of negligence according to Chapter 42 of the

Texas Human Resources Code. The policy must cover injury or death that occurs while a

child is in the care of the facility and must remain in effect at all times that the center is

operating.

d. The child care center applicant must have liability insurance coverage in the minimum

amount of $300,000 combined single limit for each occurrence of bodily injury or death and

property damage that occurs due to motor vehicle accident during transportation of a child.

Coverage shall be provided for all owned/leased nonowned and hired vehicles to include

uninsured/under-insured motorists.

e. Applicant must possess a valid Texas Child Care Center License or Accreditation issued by

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or has attained provisional

status in order to be issued a City of Arlington Child Care Center Permit. See

https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/child_care/

City of Arlington, Child Care Centers – Construction Requirements for New & Remodel (Rev 5/15) Page 4 of 4

f. Owner must provide proof of compliance with the Texas Department of Family and

Protective Services (DFPS) requirement for criminal history and background search for

each employee.

9. Fees

a. Upon completion of the plan review, the owner must submit a completed Child Care Center

Permit Application; application fee or change of ownership fee, and annual permit fee. A permit

will be issued upon compliance with the City of Arlington’s Health Ordinance requirements and

payment of fees. Permit application is available at http://www.arlington-

tx.gov/cdp/environmental-health/health-permits/

Child Care Centers

Permit Type

Current Fee

Permit Validity

Application Fee/Plan Review Fee

$375

Per Application

Change of Ownership

$300

Per Application

Operating Permit Fee - With Food

Service

$400

One year from date of Issuance

Operating Permit Fee - No Food Service

$200

Per Application

Playground Inspection Fee (per

playground at facility)

$50

Per playground at facility

Reinspection Fee

$150

Per reinspection

Reinstatement Fee

$75

Assess when annual renewal fee is

not paid by due date

Duplicate Permit Fee

$10

Three years from date of issuance

Child Care Worker's Permit

$20

Three years from date of issuance

It is your responsibility to provide all the necessary information. It is your responsibility to

notify all contractors and/or sub-contractors who will perform any work on your project of the

requirements necessary. If these requirements are not met, a health permit will not be issued,

and you will not be allowed to operate.

Please contact Health Services for more information:

Community Development & Planning

Health Services

101 W. Abram Street, 2

floor

P.O. Box 90231, Mail Stop 01-0241

Arlington, Texas 76004-3231

Telephone number: (817)-459-6502

Visit our website at http://www.arlington-tx.gov/cdp/technical-bulletins/ for additional information on

building code requirements and technical bulletins.