Frequently Asked Questions

A: The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) requires any premises in Ontario that receives more than five children under the age of 13 years for temporary care and guidance to be licensed by the Ministry of Education, except in exempt circumstances.

There are several exemptions, including:

• Nannies or babysitters that provide care to children from one family in the children’s home;
• Care by relatives;
• Camps that only care for children aged 4 years and over;
• Programs with a primary purpose of academic or skill-based recreation;
• Programs with a primary purpose of academic study and skills;
• Private schools that only care for children aged 4 years and old.

Additional exemptions are set out under section 4 of the CCEYA and in sections 3 and 3.1 under Ontario Regulation 137/15.

The Ministry of Education only responds to written inquiries about whether a child care licence is required. Telephone inquiries are not accepted. Inquiries must be sent by email to: information.met@ontario.ca

Inquiries to determine if a program will require a licence should include detailed information about the prospective program, including:

• Hours of operation;
• Ages and number of children served;
• Description of the program, equipment and facilities;
• Schedule of activities;
• List of other programs offered;
• Whether transportation to or from the program is offered.
  

A: The fees to apply for a licence to operate a child care centre or home child care agency are determined based on the maximum number of children or number of premises. The following tables provide information about fees for a new licence, the renewal of a licence, and revisions to a licence.

Child Care Centre

Maximum Number of Children	Fee for a new licence, in dollars	Fee for renewal of a licence, in dollars	Licence Revision fee, in dollars
0-24	200	100	50
25-49	250	120	65
50-74	300	140	75
75-99	350	170	90
100-124	400	200	100
125 or more	450	230	115

Home Child Care Agency

Number of premises	Fee for a new licence, in dollars	Fee for renewal of a licence, in dollars	Licence Revision fee, in dollars
0-25	200	100	50
26-50	250	120	65
51-75	300	140	75
76-100	350	170	90
101-125	400	200	100
126- or more	450	230	115

A: Prospective child care licence applicants must enrol in the web-based Child Care Licensing System (CCLS) to submit an application and fee deposit. Once enrolled, prospective applicants can view an online Operator Orientation presentation that provides information about how to apply for and obtain a licence to operate a child care program in Ontario.

Step-by-step instructions about how to register with One-Key (a unique electronic credential that allows you to communicate securely with online Government services) and complete your CCLS registration can be found on the Early Years Portal. Fee deposits are not refundable.

A: Once the application and initial fee deposit have been submitted in the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS), a Ministry of Education Program Advisor will be assigned to the application.

The Program Advisor will review the application and contact the applicant. The applicant may then communicate with the assigned Program Advisor to discuss specific questions regarding their licence application.

As part of the application process, the applicant will submit in CCLS, a variety of supporting documents (e.g. policies and procedures, municipal approvals, floor plans, etc.). The Program Advisor will review the documents and determine if revisions are required. The Program Advisor will also schedule a site inspection with the applicant. Once the inspection is complete and all licensing requirements have been met, a licence may be issued.

A: The ministry has developed a comprehensive Licensing Kit to support applicants and licensees in developing policies and procedures. The Licensing Kit includes four types of documents:

• Sample policies and procedures: examples of compliant policies and procedures that can be customized and adopted in programs, or consulted when developing policies and procedures.
• Policy and procedure templates: blank templates that can be completed to meet minimum policy and procedure requirements under regulation.
• Template forms: fillable forms that may be used regularly in programs to meet regulatory record-keeping requirements, for example, accident forms, enrolment forms, and individualized plans for children.
• Instructions and tips for developing compliant policies: guidance documents that provide information on what is required to be included in a compliant policy, procedure or other document as well as additional tips for enhancing the quality and completeness of the documents. It is recommended that these tip sheets be used in combination with the policy and procedure templates.

It is not mandatory to use the Licensing Kit; however, the documents are useful resources that will help applicants meet licensing requirements.

In addition to the Licensing Kit, the following licensing resources are available on the Early Years Portal:

• Child Care Centre and Home Child Care Agency Licensing Manuals;
• Fact Sheets;
• Information about the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS);
• Think, Feel, Act: Lessons from Research about Young Children; and
• Additional information, including pedagogical resources such as the Early Learning Framework and How Does Learning Happen?

A: On average, it takes 4 months to open a new child care centre or home child care agency. However, this time will vary depending on a number of factors, including:

• Renovations;
• Incorporating a corporation;
• Obtaining a police records check;
• Purchasing equipment;
• Hiring a supervisor;
• Recruiting staff;
• Recruiting home visitors and home child care providers;
• Developing policies and procedures; and
• Obtaining all required approvals.

A: Before a licence is issued, the applicant may operate as an unlicensed child care provider. An unlicensed child care provider may only operate one unlicensed location, and can provide care for:

• A maximum of five children under the age of 13 years old; and
• No more than two children under two years old.

Providers must include all of their own children under the age of 6 who are on the premises in the total number of children in their care. However, during the school year, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, providers can exclude their own 4- and 5-year old children from the total number allowed if:

• those children are attending full-day kindergarten in a publicly-funded school.
• the provider cares for no more than one child under the age of 2.
• the provider has no record of convictions under the Day Nurseries Act or the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

For more information on the other rules that unlicensed providers must follow, please refer to the ministry’s infographic: Home Child Care and Unlicensed Child Care: How Many Children Are Allowed?

Once a licence is issued, the applicant, now called a licensee, may operate a licensed child care program according to the terms set out in their licence and the rules set out the CCEYA and its regulations.

A: Prospective applicants are encouraged to do their research prior to submitting an application on the Child Care Licensing System as fee deposits are not refundable.

Prospective applicants should review the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and Ontario Regulation 137/15 to develop an understanding of the licensing requirements. To assist in this review, resources such as the Child Care Licensing Manual, Home Child Care Licensing Manual and the Licensing Kit are available on the Early Years Portal.

The Early Years Portal also provides applicants with resources to support the application process. The portal includes information about the CCEYA licensing standards, such as nutrition and staff qualification requirements.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their local Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) and District Social Services Administration Board (DSSABs) to learn about child care needs in their community.

A: When applying for a child care centre or home child care agency licence, the applicant is required, under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, to provide evidence stating that the premises complies with:

• The laws affecting the health of inhabitants of the municipality or of the reserve of a First Nation;
• Any rule, regulation, direction or order of the local board of health and any direction or order of the local medical officer of health;
• Zoning and local by-laws;
• The Building Code;
• The Fire Code; and
• The requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Where applicants are unsure about which municipal approvals are required, they are encouraged to contact their Program Advisor for additional information after they have submitted their application.

A: In Ontario, CMSMs and DSSABs are the service system managers responsible for planning, managing and coordinating child care for their surrounding region.

In addition to local service system planning, CMSMs/DSSABs provide funding to licensees for child care fee subsidies, general operating expenses and wage enhancement for child care staff, through purchase of service agreements with licensees. Prospective child care operators are encouraged to contact their local CMSM or DSSAB to learn more about the need for child care spaces and to inquire about potential opportunities to apply for funding.

To find out the CMSM/DSSAB that serves your area, please review the list available on the Ministry of Education website.

A: In child care centres, it is the licensee’s responsibility to provide toys and materials, as well as cribs and cots, for the children who are in care. These costs are part of the operating costs associated with opening a child care centre.

It is each licensee’s responsibility to ensure that there are adequate toys, play materials and equipment available for all children in care.

A home child care agency must set out in a written agreement with each provider who is responsible for providing toys, play materials and equipment at the premises. In some cases each provider supplies the toys and equipment, while in other cases the agency supplies toys and equipment or maintains a lending library for providers to use.

Applicants may wish to contact their local Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) and District Social Services Administration Board (DSSABs) for information about funding opportunities that may be able to support the one-time start-up costs for child care programs.

A: No. The Ministry of Education does not assist applicants in finding staff for a child care centre or home child care agency. It is each applicant’s responsibility to recruit staff with the appropriate qualifications required under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

The Ministry of Education does not assist applicants in finding children to receive services from a child care centre or home child care agency. Your local Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) and District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSAB) may be able to assist you by providing information about the service system plan and outlining which areas are in need of child care services.

Once a licence has been issued, applicants, now called licensees, are encouraged to contact their local CMSM/DSSAB to notify them of their licence status and that they are providing care to the community. This will assist in communicating to parents which child care centres and home child care agencies in the community are currently enrolling children into care.

A: You may withdraw your application from the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS) if you no longer wish to proceed. However, the payment submitted as part of your new licence application is non-refundable.

A: The Ministry has the authority to issue a notice of proposal to refuse to issue a licence to an applicant. By refusing to issue a new licence, an applicant is prevented from starting operation as licensed child care.

The grounds for refusing to issue a licence are set out in the CCEYA, and include things like lack of competency to operate a licensed child care program, past conduct that leads the Ministry to believe that a licensed child care program would not be operated in accordance with the law, and evidence of a previous revocation or refusal to issue a child care licence. For more information, please see section 23 of the CCEYA.

The Ministry does not issue refunds to applicants who were not successful in obtaining a licence to operate a child care program.

Applicants may appeal a notice of proposal to refuse to issue a licence by requesting a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal within 15 days of being served with a notice of proposal. If an applicant does not request a hearing the Ministry will carry out the proposal and refuse to issue a licence.

A: The Ministry of Education does not provide in-person consultation services, including visiting potential child care centre spaces for prospective applicants. Applicants must submit an application through the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS) with the address of a proposed child care centre.

Once your application and fee have been assigned to a Ministry of Education Program Advisor, you may discuss your questions and concerns regarding the space and request an initial site visit.

A: The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 does not require you to rent or own the child care centre premises prior to submitting an application in the Child Care Licensing System (CCLS). However, a civic address for your proposed premises must be identified when submitting the application. Zoning approval is not required to submit an application but will be required before issuing a licence.

You will also be required to submit detailed site and floor plans that reflect the proposed layout of the child care centre. You cannot begin any construction or renovation until your plans are approved by the Ministry of Education.

A: Applicants may wish to contact their local Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) and District Social Services Administration Board (DSSABs) for information about funding opportunities that may be able to support the one-time start-up costs for child care programs.

In Ontario, Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs) and District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs) are the service system managers responsible for planning, managing and coordinating child care for their surrounding region. CMSMs/DSSABs have the authority to make decisions that best meet the needs of their communities within the parameters of provincial legislation, regulations and policies.

A: If a home has been zoned to operate as a child care facility and approved by the local fire department, an applicant may apply for a child care centre licence. The space must meet all Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 requirements such as adequate outdoor play space and compliance with municipal by-laws and the Ontario Building Code.

Licensed home child care agencies contract with individual providers who use their own homes to look after children.

A: The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 does not set out educational qualifications for child care licensees.

However, every child care licensee must employ a supervisor who is a member in good standing of the College of Early Childhood Educators, has at least two years of experience providing licensed child care and is approved by a Ministry of Education director; or in the opinion of a Ministry of Education director, is capable of planning and directing the program of a child care centre, being in charge of children and overseeing staff.

A: Please see Subsection 12.2 – Sales in the Child Care Licensing Manual for information on licensing processes and requirements when an individual or corporation is considering selling a child care centre or home child care agency.

A: In licensed home child care, individual homes are not issued a licence; instead, the ministry issues a licence to the home child care agency. Licensed home child care agencies contract with individual providers to care for children in the home. Providers are screened, approved and monitored by the home child care agency.

Home child care agencies and home child care providers are subject to the licensing requirements set out under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. Although homes are not licensed, they may be inspected by Ministry staff and must comply with all licensing requirements at all times.

You may search for a home child care agency that services your area by visiting the Licensing Child Care Website.