Rule 5180:2-19-03 | Indoor and outdoor health and safety.
(A) What are the requirements for building and fire inspections?
(1) School buildings will not have to undergo additional building code inspections or to have structural modifications for use as school child program sites.
(2) Programs not conducted in school buildings will not be licensed until it has been ascertained that such use conforms to local codes and ordinances, and until the premises are inspected by:
(a) A state fire marshal or local fire safety inspector. The premises will have been inspected by the fire marshal or fire safety inspector holding local jurisdiction and any changes obligated by the fire marshal or fire safety inspector have been completed before children may occupy the premises. A floor plan of the area used by the program will be submitted electronically to the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY); and
(b) A building official. Local building authorities having jurisdiction over the premises will be satisfied with building code compliance and documentation kept on file. Any obligated changes will be made before the program may occupy the space.
(3) The governing body is responsible for ensuring that the listed inspections are carried out and any needed modifications to program sites are made. Documents verifying these inspections and any changes or reconstruction carried out pursuant to the official's obligations will be available for review at the program. A person who has reasonable cause to believe that a potential hazard exists may request a re-inspection of the program site.
(B) What are the indoor space requirements for a licensed school child program?
(1) Program sites will provide a minimum of thirty-five square feet of indoor primary space per child. When space is used with other groups, only the actual portion of space available for the school child program will be classified as primary space that may be used in the calculation of the square footage for primary space.
(2) Additional space used for short periods of time does not have to meet the thirty-five square feet per child obligation.
(3) If additional children are to be added at a program site and the result is that more children will be in attendance at the site than the license capacity permits, a new site plan will be submitted to and approved by DCY prior to opening the program for that increased number of children.
(4) Space for storage of equipment and children's personal belongings will be available.
(C) What are the outdoor play space requirements for a licensed school child program?
(1) Safe outdoor play space totaling not less than sixty square feet for each child using the space at any one time, will be regularly available and scheduled for use, unless the program operates for less than three hours per day.
(2) The surface of the outdoor play space will be well drained and offer protection from falls.
(3) The play space will be free of hazards such as, but not limited to, broken glass, potholes, garbage, flammable materials and other debris.
(4) The play space will be well defined to protect children from traffic or animals.
(5) The program will provide equipment that promotes large muscle development in adequate amounts for the group size. Equipment is to be safe, age appropriate and not include openings that may cause body part entrapment.
(6) The program will provide sun protection for all children.
(7) Swimming pools, wading pools, and other bodies of water eighteen inches or more in depth will be fenced or otherwise made inaccessible to the children when adult supervision is not available.
(D) What are the requirements for licensed school child programs who use play spaces that are regulated by another state or local agency?
(1) The distance and means to access off-site play spaces will be safe and developmentally appropriate.
(2) On-site or off-site play spaces that are regulated by another state or local agency are exempt from the DCY requirements for outdoor spaces and play equipment. Licensed school child programs are to protect children from harm while using these exempted play spaces, including but not limited to, protection from traffic and animals; preventing child access to bodies of water; and providing sun protection for all children.
(E) What are the specific procedures the licensed school child program needs to follow for standard precautions?
(1) Safe handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio-contaminants:
(a) Blood spills are to be treated cautiously and decontaminated promptly. Disposable non-latex gloves are to be worn during contact with blood or bodily fluids which contain blood, such as vomit or feces in which blood can be seen.
(b) Surfaces contaminated with blood or bodily fluids containing blood are to first be cleaned with hot, soapy water, and then sanitized with an appropriate bleach solution which is prepared on a daily basis, according to product guidelines, or other acceptable disinfectant solution which is environmental protection agency (EPA) rated as hospital disinfectant with a label claim for mycobactericidal activity.
(c) Disposal of materials that contain blood are to be kept in a sealable, leakproof plastic bag or double bagging in plastic bags that are securely tied.
(d) Non-disposable items, such as clothing that contain blood, are to be placed in a sealable, leakproof plastic bag or double bagged in plastic bags that are securely tied and sent home with the child.
(e) Sharp items used for procedures on children with special care needs, such as lancets for finger sticks or syringes, are to be kept in a disposable container called a "sharps container." This is a container made out of durable, rigid material which safely stores the lancets or needles until the parent can take them home for disposal. Sharps containers are to be stored out of the reach of children.
(2) Children may use cleaning supplies with adult supervision.
(3) Handwashing is to occur in a handwashing sink with running water, and which conforms to the Ohio plumbing standards of division 4101:3 of the Administrative Code.
(F) What are the additional safe and sanitary environment/equipment requirements for a licensed school child program?
(1) Furniture, equipment, and supplies will be appropriate to the age and size of the children who use them.
(2) The program site will be cleaned daily. The environment, furniture, materials and equipment are to be kept in a sanitary condition at all times.
(3) Areas, equipment, and furniture used by children will be free from hazards.
(4) Floor surfaces will be maintained to not cause a tripping hazard.
(5) The program will provide a smoke free environment.
(6) Children will have access to bathroom facilities and sinks at all times.
(7) General-use trampolines, ball pits, and inflatable play equipment intended for climbing and bouncing, including but not limited to slides and bounce houses, is not permitted for use in the program. Individual-use, personal-sized therapy trampolines no larger than forty-eight inches in diameter may be used by children under direct supervision.
(8) A working phone and a backup form of communication, including but not limited to email, text messaging services, or an additional phone will be within, or immediately accessible to the program's primary space and accessible to school child program staff members at all times.
(a) School child program staff members will be available to parents by phone during hours of program operation.
(b) Phone numbers for emergency services that may be locally appropriate will be posted in a visible location readily accessible to the appropriate school child program staff member in the area.
(G) What are the first aid supply requirements for a licensed school child program?
Adequate and sufficient first aid supplies will be readily available at all times the program is in operation, including on field trips. This includes, at a minimum, band-aids, gauze squares, adhesive tape, an instant ice pack, disposable non-latex gloves, and a working digital thermometer. First aid kits will be reviewed and replaced regularly by a school child program staff member.
Last updated July 1, 2026 at 8:45 AM
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