Rule 5180:2-12-13 | Sanitary equipment and environment for a licensed child care center.
(A) What are the requirements to provide and maintain a clean environment, furniture, materials, and equipment in a licensed child care center?
(1) Toilet tissue, liquid soap, running water, and individually assigned towels, disposable towels or air dryers shall be provided in all bathrooms. Toilets and bathroom sinks shall be in good working condition. Toilets shall be flushed after each use.
(2) Equipment, furnishings, and materials shall be constructed of materials to facilitate cleaning.
(3) Accumulated trash and garbage are not to be stored in an area that has been approved for child care.
(4) The center shall be cleaned daily. The environment, furniture, materials, and equipment are to be kept in a sanitary condition at all times. Items to be cleaned and sanitized between uses, including but not limited to diaper changing stations, potty chairs, tables where food is served, and food prep areas, are to be cleaned and sanitized prior to reuse. Cleaning and sanitizing shall not take place while rooms are occupied by children, except for general cleanup activities such as sweeping, vacuuming, mopping and wiping off tables which are part of the daily routine.
(5) If the center's water is not publicly supplied, the center shall contact the Ohio environmental protection agency (EPA) to determine if it qualifies as a public water system.
(a) If the water supply qualifies as a public water system, the center shall comply with the Ohio EPA requirements.
(b) If the water supply does not qualify as a public water system, the center shall contact the local health department to have the water tested and follow any additional requirements requested by the health department. The center shall retain a copy of the water test and make it available upon request.
(6) On-site sewage disposal systems shall not present a public health hazard.
(B) What are the handwashing requirements for a center?
(1) Handwashing shall occur in a handwashing sink.
(2) Commercially manufactured non-permanent sinks may be used if fresh water and waste water are inaccessible to children and disposed of in a sanitary manner.
(3) Handwashing requirements for center child care staff members, employees and children are detailed in appendix A to this rule.
(C) What are the requirements for a smoke free environment in a center?
The center shall provide a smoke free environment for the children during the hours that child care is being provided in compliance with the smoking ban pursuant to section 3794.02 of the Revised Code and according to the following:
(1) The center will not expose children to the following products including, but not limited to, cigarette, cigar, or pipe butts or ashes, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, chewing tobacco and their byproducts.
(2) The center is to post in a noticeable place at the main entrance, a notice stating that smoking is prohibited while care is being provided.
(3) If smoking is permitted in the center during hours that the center is not operating, the administrator is to provide written notice to the parent of each child enrolled that smoking occurs at the center outside of center operating hours.
(4) Smoking will not be allowed in all vehicles owned by the child care center and any other vehicle when occupied by children under the center's care.
Last updated July 1, 2026 at 8:29 AM
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