The Licenses and Inspections fire safety requirements for family child care is a one-page sheet from the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) that lists what the fire inspection of a home child care covers. Providers use it while working toward a Family Child Care License, a step in getting a Philadelphia business license for a family child care. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the original sheet is published by the City of Philadelphia at phila.gov.
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What is Licenses and Inspections fire safety requirements for family child care – Philadelphia, PA?
The Licenses and Inspections fire safety requirements for family child care is a City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) sheet that tells family child care providers what the fire inspection of their home will include, including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, exits and portable heaters.
The sheet states that the inspection "will include, but may not be limited to" the items it lists, so it is a checklist of the main points rather than a complete rulebook. Its main requirements are:
- Smoke alarms: 10-year non-replaceable lithium battery detectors on each floor of the home, or hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms on each floor, including basements. Hard-wired alarms are required for residences caring for 7 to 12 children.
- Carbon monoxide alarms: installed within 15 feet of the entrance of every bedroom and in the sleeping area(s) of the day care.
- Fire extinguishers: at least one portable extinguisher rated 2-A:10BC (5 lb.) or higher, visibly mounted in the childcare area(s) and in the kitchen or other cooking areas.
- Means of egress: no double key cylinder locks on egress doors and no locked rear yard gates.
- Portable heating devices: devices that produce an open flame may not be used in the building during the operating hours of a residential child care facility.
The sheet is not an application. It also reminds providers that, before requesting the fire inspection, they must apply for a Family Child Care License. The same sheet is printed in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Khmer and French.
Who needs to file Licenses and Inspections fire safety requirements for family child care – Philadelphia, PA?
Family child care providers in Philadelphia who are seeking a Family Child Care License use this sheet to prepare their home for the L&I fire inspection. It applies to residences where child care is provided and is the checklist for the main fire safety items the inspection covers.
Some requirements depend on the size of the program:
- Residences caring for 7 to 12 children must have hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms on each floor, including basements.
- Providers that care for fewer children may use the 10-year non-replaceable lithium battery detectors on each floor, as the sheet describes.
The sheet does not name any group that is exempt, and it says nothing about representatives acting for the provider. For questions about whether your situation needs a Family Child Care License, check L&I's page on how to get a Family Child Care Facility License.
When to file Licenses and Inspections fire safety requirements for family child care – Philadelphia, PA
This sheet is not filed. Use it before you request your fire inspection, because the sheet says providers must first apply for a Family Child Care License. That application requires a Zoning Use Permit, a Tax Account Number, a Commercial Activity License and Health Department approval (License Eligibility Report). The sheet prints no deadline and no processing time, so review each item on it while you prepare your home and before you ask L&I for the inspection.
Documents you need
- Zoning Use Permit: the first of four items the sheet says applicants for a Family Child Care License must obtain before requesting the fire inspection.
- Tax Account Number: required of applicants for the Family Child Care License, which must be applied for before the fire inspection is requested.
- Commercial Activity License: one of the four items the sheet lists for applicants for a Family Child Care License.
- Health Department approval, License Eligibility Report: the fourth item the sheet lists for Family Child Care License applicants.
How to fill out Licenses and Inspections fire safety requirements for family child care – Philadelphia, PA
Review the smoke alarm requirements
Check that each floor has either 10-year non-replaceable lithium battery detectors or hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms, basements included. If you care for 7 to 12 children, the hard-wired alarms are required.
Place carbon monoxide alarms
Confirm that an alarm is installed within 15 feet of the entrance of every bedroom and in the sleeping area(s) of the day care.
Mount the fire extinguishers
Place at least one portable extinguisher rated 2-A:10BC (5 lb.) or higher in view in the childcare area(s) and in the kitchen or other cooking areas.
Check exits and gates
Remove any double key cylinder locks from egress doors and make sure the rear yard gate is not locked.
Keep open-flame heaters out
Do not use portable heating devices that produce an open flame in the building during the child care's operating hours.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check each entry you made on the PDF against the sheet, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and keep it with your license application materials.
How to submit Licenses and Inspections fire safety requirements for family child care – Philadelphia, PA
This sheet is a requirements checklist and is not submitted to L&I. The channels below are for the Family Child Care License application that the sheet says must come before you request a fire inspection.
- Online: L&I says you can apply for a Family Child Care License online.
- In person: take your application to the Permit and License Center in the Municipal Services Building (MSB) Concourse.
- Mail: do not mail your application. L&I's page says so directly.
L&I's page about child care business materials and its guide to getting a Family Child Care Facility License give further detail. The sheet does not state a channel or an address for requesting the fire inspection itself. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; any application follows the City's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Requesting the fire inspection before applying for a Family Child Care License, which the sheet says providers must do first.
- Caring for 7 to 12 children with only battery detectors; that size of program requires hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms on each floor, including basements.
- Installing carbon monoxide alarms more than 15 feet from a bedroom entrance or leaving the sleeping area(s) of the day care without one.
- Mounting an extinguisher rated below 2-A:10BC, or placing it out of sight instead of visibly mounted in the childcare area(s) and the kitchen or other cooking areas.
- Keeping double key cylinder locks on egress doors or locking the rear yard gate.
- Using a portable heating device that produces an open flame during operating hours of the child care.
- Treating the list as complete; the inspection includes, but may not be limited to, the items printed.
- Mailing the Family Child Care License application; L&I says not to mail it.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Philadelphia family child care fire inspection include?
It includes, but may not be limited to, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, means of egress and portable heating devices. The L&I sheet lists specific requirements for each, such as a 2-A:10BC extinguisher and no double key cylinder locks on egress doors.
What do I need before requesting a fire inspection for family child care?
You must first apply for a Family Child Care License. The sheet says that application requires a Zoning Use Permit, a Tax Account Number, a Commercial Activity License and Health Department approval (License Eligibility Report).
Do I need hard-wired smoke alarms for my home child care?
Yes, if you care for 7 to 12 children. The sheet requires hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms on each floor, including basements, for those residences. Otherwise it allows 10-year non-replaceable lithium battery detectors on each floor.
Where do I apply for a Family Child Care License in Philadelphia?
Apply online, or take your application to the Permit and License Center in the Municipal Services Building (MSB) Concourse. L&I's page says not to mail your application.
Can I use a space heater in my family child care?
Not one that produces an open flame. The sheet says portable heating devices that produce an open flame may not be used in the building during the operating hours of a residential child care facility.
Is this sheet available in languages other than English?
Yes. The same L&I sheet, revised January 2020, also appears in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Khmer and French, with the same requirements.
Can I fill out this form online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not connected to the City of Philadelphia, and it does not file anything with L&I or request your inspection.
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