Child Care Permits

Child Care Permit and Inspection Guide

The Arlington County Office of the Fire Marshal conducts child care permit inspections to help ensure child care homes and facilities provide a safe environment for children, staff, and visitors.

These inspections help verify compliance with applicable fire and life safety requirements, identify potential hazards, and confirm that required safety features are in place and maintained.

During a child care inspection, Fire Marshal staff may review items such as:

• Address numbers that are clearly posted and visible
• Working smoke alarms on each level of the home
• Working carbon monoxide alarms where required
• A working fire extinguisher that is accessible and properly maintained
• Fire extinguishers that are within the manufacturer’s service date or tagged by an approved agency
• Posted fire safety and evacuation plans
• Fire evacuation drills and records available for review
• Clear and unobstructed exit paths and emergency exit doors
• Illuminated exit signs, where required
• Emergency lighting that operates when tested, where required
• Proper clearance around electrical panels, furnaces, water heaters, and other mechanical equipment
• Electrical panels clear of combustibles with at least 36 inches of clearance
• Safe use of power strips with built-in surge or circuit protection
• No use of extension cords or multi-plug adapters as permanent wiring
• Proper clearance from ignition sources
• Kitchen appliances free of excessive grease, food debris, and combustible materials
• Clothes dryer vents free of lint build-up
• General housekeeping conditions that could create a fire or life safety hazard

Child care permit inspections are intended to help identify hazards before an emergency occurs. Providers are responsible for maintaining safe conditions at all times and correcting any violations identified during the inspection.