Creating Child Care Spaces in Richmond
Creating Child Care Spaces
Child Care Development Policy
Creating Child Care Spaces
Healthy child care spaces promote the wellbeing for children and families and help the overall economic stability and growth in Richmond. Before applying for a provincial child care licenses and building permit for a child care space, it is important to do the appropriate research and planning in order to prepare information for a Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Licensing Officer.
Creating Child Care Spaces in Richmond
| LICENSING A CHILD CARE PROGRAM IN A HOME | |
|---|---|
| 1) Apply for Provincial Licensing (VCH) |
Complete a Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Child Care Facility Licensing Application form. |
| 2) Find a suitable child care space and coordinate a visit with a VCH Licensing Officer |
Meet with a VCH Licensing Officer to review plans for the proposed child care space and to coordinate an assessment of your space. Provide the Licensing Officer with documents including an employee plan, and site and floor plan drawings to scale. |
| 3) Apply for a building permit through the City and coordinate a building inspection with Building Approvals |
If no renovations are planned, you must apply for a Non-Permit Site Inspection. If renovations are planned, you will need to submit a Building Permit, and include in your application four (4) copies of the child care space drawn to scale. Both require inspection visit(s) and payment of associated fees. |
| 4)Coordinate a fire inspection with Richmond Fire-Rescue |
If your building inspection is successful, you will be provided with a Site Visit Notice (if you applied for a Non-Permit Site Inspection) or a Final Inspection Card (if you applied for a building permit). Both are considered municipal approval of your child care space. Once this is completed, you will need to contact Richmond Fire-Rescue for a fire inspection. There may be an associated fee. |
| 5) Provide VCH with municipal and fire approval from the City |
If the fire inspection is successful, you will be provided with correspondence confirming BC Fire Code Compliance. Provide the VCH Licensing Officer with these documents and continue to complete the process to obtain a licence to operate. |
| LICENSING GROUP CHILD CARE PROGRAMS | |
|---|---|
| 1) Decide the location and type of the child care program you want |
Research the community need for child care, including the types of licensed child care programs and the zoning areas where child care spaces are permitted in Richmond |
| 2) Apply for Provincial Licensing (VCH) |
Complete a Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Child Care Facility Licensing Application form. |
| 3) Design a suitable child care space and coordinate a visit with a VCH Licensing Officer |
Meet with a VCH Licensing Officer to review plans for the proposed child care centre. Provide a detailed description of the care program(s), site and floor plans (drawn to scale), and financial and budgetary information. This may take many meetings to ensure that you are creating a healthy space for children. |
| 4) Apply for a building permit through the city and coordinate a building inspection with Building Approvals |
Apply for a Building Permit through the City’s Building Approvals Department. You will need to provide four (4) sets of plans (drawn to scale). If the plans comply with the requirements contained in the BC Building Code, a Building Permit will be issued |
| 5) Begin construction on your child care space and coordinate necessary building, plumbing and fire inspections |
Coordinate building and plumbing inspections with the Building Approvals Department and fire inspections with Richmond Fire-Rescue. During the inspection process, the inspector will advise you of any issues requiring your attention. If your building inspection is successful, you will be provided with a Final Inspection Card (municipal approval). Once this is completed, you will need to contact Richmond Fire-Rescue for a fire inspection. |
| 6) Provide VCH with building and fire approval from the City |
If the fire inspection is successful, you will be provided with correspondence confirming BC Fire Code Compliance. Provide the VCH Licensing Officer with these documents to continue to work with them to complete your child care program’s provincial licence. |
Child Care Development Policy
The City of Richmond acknowledges that quality and affordable child care is an essential service in the community for residents, employers and employees. The Child Care Development Policy describes the City of Richmond’s roles and responsibilities for child care in the community including:
- Working in partnership with senior levels of government and non-profit and private sectors to ensure that quality affordable child care is provided throughout the community,
- The establishment of a Council Advisory Committee to provide advice on child care in Richmond,
- The establishment of a Child Care Reserve Fund to assist with capital costs for new child care space and operating costs for existing child care programs,
The development of child care facilities, and - Ensuring that child care is an important component in neighbourhood planning.
Since 2009, The City has supported child care development in Richmond by:
- Creating five City-owned child care facilities with a total of 173 spaces in the Blundell, City Centre, Hamilton, Shellmont, and West Cambie planning areas;
- Working on the design and upcoming development of two City-owned child care facilities in the Bridgeport and City Centre planning areas; and
- Approving two new Early Childhood Hub facilities in the City Centre planning area that will offer child care and other related services for families.
