Child Care Centers

The Environmental Health section completes sanitation inspections on all childcare centers in Sampson County twice each fiscal year, and one time in each six-month period. All childcare centers are licensed by the Division of Child Development and inspections performed by this department are forwarded to their agency.

Constructing a New Child Care Center

If you are constructing a new childcare center, before initiating construction you must submit equipment specifications and the Plan Review Application to this office. 

Some of the items noted during the inspection include:

  • Handwashing
  • Food sources and storage, protection and service
  • Kitchen requirements
  • Cleaning and sanitizing of food preparation areas
  • Water supply and temperatures
  • Diaper-changing procedures and facility
  • Storage areas
  • Chemical and medicine storage
  • Beds, cots and linens
  • Overall cleaning and sanitizing of the facility
  • Construction of the facility
  • Lighting and thermal environment
  • Control of communicable disease
  • Outdoor learning environment and premises

A score card is posted at the center that states the classification and number of demerits noted during the inspection. A center receives a superior classification if the demerits do not exceed 15 and no six-point violations are found. The center is classified as approved if the demerit score is more than 15 but less than 30, and no six-point demerits are noted. A provisional classification is issued when the demerit score is more than 30 but does not exceed 45, or if any six-point demerit item is violated. The center has seven days to repair all provisional violations. A center is classified as disapproved if the demerit score is more than 45, or if the conditions that resulted in a provisional classification have not been repaired in the time period specified by the Department.

Back to top