Ontario child care licensing, explained
Plain guides to what the regulation asks, each with its sections and the date it was checked on e-Laws. Free, no sign-up.
- 15 guides
- 4 free tools
- e-Laws consolidation from July 1, 2026
Start here
- For centres and agencies · 9 minWhat a licensing inspector checksThe records a program advisor usually asks for at an Ontario licensing visit, the section of O. Reg. 137/15 behind each one, and how to have them ready.Read the guide →
- For centres and agencies · 8 minThe January 1, 2027 changes to O. Reg. 137/15What O. Reg. 197/26 adds on January 1, 2027: supervision policies, a supervisor stand-in, missing-child policies and drills, and training on every policy.Read the guide →
Guides
For centres and agencies
- What a licensing inspector checks
The records a program advisor usually asks for at an Ontario licensing visit, the section of O. Reg. 137/15 behind each one, and how to have them ready.
- The January 1, 2027 changes to O. Reg. 137/15
What O. Reg. 197/26 adds on January 1, 2027: supervision policies, a supervisor stand-in, missing-child policies and drills, and training on every policy.
- Serious occurrences: what counts and the 24-hour rule
The five kinds of serious occurrence in O. Reg. 137/15, the 24-hour report, the 10 business days of posting, and how the daily written record differs.
- Vulnerable sector checks and offence declarations
When a vulnerable sector check is required, the five-year renewal, and the yearly offence declaration due no later than 15 days after the anniversary.
- Fire drills, emergency procedures and the records to keep
Monthly fire drills under s. 68, the fire chief’s approval, the 12-month record, emergency management policies under s. 68.1, and missing-child drills.
- Sleep supervision and direct visual checks
What s. 33.1 requires: safe sleep under 12 months, direct visual checks of sleeping infants and toddlers, enough light, and a sleep policy.
- Anaphylaxis, medical needs and medication
The anaphylactic policy and individualized plans, the medication rules in s. 40, who may carry medication since July 1, 2026, and allergy postings.
- Records and retention: what to keep and for how long
The records O. Reg. 137/15 requires for each child, attendance records, the three-year retention rule in s. 82, drill records and electronic records.
- CWELCC: the records an enrolled licensee keeps
What O. Reg. 137/15 says about CWELCC (the agreement on site, the $22 base fee cap, credits or refunds within 60 days) and the records to keep.
- Payment fees and the CWELCC base fee: what Ontario allows
Whether a fee for paying by pre-authorized debit or card counts toward the CWELCC base fee cap, when it becomes optional, and why a new fee may be barred.
- What to ask any child care software vendor
Eleven questions to put to any child care software supplier before you sign: where records are kept, who sees what, corrections, leaving, cost and support.
For centres
- Ratios and group sizes in Ontario child care centres
Schedule 1 ratios and group sizes by age group, the mixed-age rule, reduced ratios, when the supervisor counts, and family age group staffing under s. 8.1.
- Playground inspections: daily, monthly and annual
What s. 24 requires of a centre’s outdoor play space: the safety policy, daily, monthly and annual inspections to CSA Z614, the repair log and fencing.
- Bringing families into KeepCount
How a centre invites family members, records photo consent, keeps the pick-up list, writes to families, and what families see in KeepCount.
For home child care agencies
- Home visits each quarter: what an agency must do
The home child care visitor’s inspections under s. 26: before a premises is used and at least once in every quarter without notice, and the record of each.
The guides explain the regulation; they are not legal advice. The Ministry decides compliance.
Free tools
They run in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
- Centres
Ratio and group size calculator
Enter the children in a room and see the Schedule 1 staffing, the maximum group size and the mixed-age rule, or the s. 8.1 calculation for a family age group.
ExampleToddler group, 12 children presentOpen the calculator →3 employees required for 12 children
Toddler: 1 to 5, maximum group 15, 1 in 3 qualified. - Centres and agencies
Ready for 2027 checklist
The changes O. Reg. 197/26 brings into force on January 1, 2027, as a checklist you can tick off and print.
From the listOpen the checklist →- Written supervision policy s. 11(2)
- Written missing-child policy s. 68.2(1), (2)
- The staff training policy provides for training on every policy and procedure the regulation requires, including the new ones s. 58(1.1)
- Centres and agencies
Screening dates calculator
Enter the date of a vulnerable sector check and see when the next check and each yearly offence declaration are due under s. 62.
ExampleCheck prepared Mar 3, 2025Open the calculator →Mar 3, 2030 new check due (s. 62(1)(a))
Declarations by Mar 18 in 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029 (s. 62(2)). - Centres and agencies
CWELCC base fee calculator
The most a licensee enrolled in the Canada-wide system may charge an eligible child for a day under s. 77.2(2), and what a fee every family must pay does to it.
From the listOpen the calculator →- Written supervision policy s. 11(2)
- Written missing-child policy s. 68.2(1), (2)
- The staff training policy provides for training on every policy and procedure the regulation requires, including the new ones s. 58(1.1)
KeepCount updates by email
A few emails a year: when the software changes, when Ontario's child care rules change, and when a new guide is published. Nothing else.
Book a demo. Then 30 days free, no card needed.
The guides explain the rule. KeepCount keeps the record for it as the day happens.