North Dakota Childcare Licensing Requirements (2026)

North Dakota childcare centers must include a written Hours of Operation section in the parent handbook (Days and hours the facility is open; holiday closures; late pick-up policy.) per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-04 (Effect of licensing and display of license; the current license must be displayed prominently and must specify the maximum number of children the center may care for) — there is no standalone 'hours of operation' rule in ch. 75-03-10; this is the closest verified umbrella section.

N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-04 (Effect of licensing and display of license; the current license must be displayed prominently and must specify the maximum number of children the center may care for) — there is no standalone 'hours of operation' rule in ch. 75-03-10; this is the closest verified umbrella section

North Dakota childcare centers must include a written Behavior Guidance and Discipline Policy section in the parent handbook (Positive guidance techniques used; prohibited discipline methods; progressive steps.) per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-23 (Discipline - Punishment prohibited).

N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-23 (Discipline - Punishment prohibited)

North Dakota childcare centers must include a written Illness and Exclusion Policy section in the parent handbook (Symptoms requiring exclusion; readmission criteria; communicable disease procedures.) per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-26(8) and 75-03-10-26(9) (Minimum provisions regarding emergency care for children — supervised temporary isolation of a child too ill to remain or with an infectious/contagious disease; exclusion and return of children with infectious or communicable conditions per local public health or department public health division guidance).

N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-26(8) and 75-03-10-26(9) (Minimum provisions regarding emergency care for children — supervised temporary isolation of a child too ill to remain or with an infectious/contagious disease; exclusion and return of children with infectious or communicable conditions per local public health or department public health division guidance)

North Dakota childcare centers must include a written Medication Administration Policy section in the parent handbook (Procedures for administering prescription and non-prescription medications; authorization requirements.) per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-26(7) (written permission to dispense medication, prescriber's written dosage/storage instructions, labeling, storage inaccessible to children, and written medication administration records including over-the-counter medication).

N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-26(7) (written permission to dispense medication, prescriber's written dosage/storage instructions, labeling, storage inaccessible to children, and written medication administration records including over-the-counter medication)

North Dakota childcare centers must include a written Emergency Procedures section in the parent handbook (Fire, severe weather, lockdown, and medical emergency procedures; evacuation routes.) per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-16 (Minimum emergency evacuation and disaster plan) and 75-03-10-26 (Minimum provisions regarding emergency care for children).

N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-16 (Minimum emergency evacuation and disaster plan) and 75-03-10-26 (Minimum provisions regarding emergency care for children)

North Dakota childcare centers must include a written Arrival and Departure Procedures section in the parent handbook (Sign-in/sign-out requirements; authorized pick-up persons; late pick-up fees.) per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-09(20) and 75-03-10-09(21) (operator must ensure children do not depart unsupervised absent written parental consent, and that each child is released only to the parent, legal custodian, guardian, or authorized person); see also written policy for accountability when a child fails to arrive as expected at 75-03-10-09(5)(j).

N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-09(20) and 75-03-10-09(21) (operator must ensure children do not depart unsupervised absent written parental consent, and that each child is released only to the parent, legal custodian, guardian, or authorized person); see also written policy for accountability when a child fails to arrive as expected at 75-03-10-09(5)(j)

Which agency regulates childcare licensing in North Dakota?

Childcare licensing in North Dakota is regulated by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit). Official licensing information is published at https://www.hhs.nd.gov/cfs/early-childhood-services/child-care-licensing.

How many handbook policy sections does North Dakota require?

North Dakota requires at least 13 mandatory policy sections in a licensed center's parent handbook, each backed by a specific state regulatory citation.

How often does North Dakota inspect licensed childcare centers?

Licensed and self-declared child care programs receive one announced (scheduled) and one unannounced (drop-in) monitoring/inspection visit per year, verifying compliance with health and safety standards (per ND HHS Early Childhood Licensing monitoring practice; the once-announced/once-unannounced frequency is a Department policy, not a statutory term). The Department's inspection authority is established under N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-08; investigation authority under N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07; and reinspection authority under N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07.3. Annual fire inspections by local or state fire authorities also apply under N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-17(1).

What happens if a North Dakota center is out of compliance?

Criminal: Any person or entity that violates any provision of N.D.C.C. ch. 50-11.1 (including operating without a required license) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor (N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-13). Civil: an owner who continues to provide services without a required license after written notice is subject to a civil penalty of $50/day per day of operation without a license (N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-03(9)). Administrative fiscal sanctions for uncorrected violations after the correction deadline, per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-30: $25/day for the most serious tier (violations of N.D.C.C. ch. 50-11.1; staffing/ratios 75-03-10-08(2); substitute staffing 75-03-10-09(12); fire inspections 75-03-10-17; sanitation/safety items 75-03-10-18(6),(9),(13); space/lighting 75-03-10-19; discipline 75-03-10-23; conviction/background 75-03-10-27; abuse/neglect 75-03-10-28); $15/day for a second tier (director/staff qualifications 75-03-10-10 and -12, transportation 75-03-10-15, listed sanitation items 75-03-10-18(2),(3),(4),(7),(8),(11),(19), program items 75-03-10-20(3),(8),(19), and infant care 75-03-10-24(1)(a)); and $5/day for any other violation of the chapter. By statute, the fiscal sanction for any specific violation may not exceed $100 per day of noncompliance (N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07.4); sanctions accrue/accumulate per N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07.5 and are recovered per 50-11.1-07.6 until the Department receives notice the violation is corrected. The Department may also suspend, deny, or revoke the license (N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-05; N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07.8, 50-11.1-09, 50-11.1-10).