[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595; 10-16-2008 by Ord. No. 14637]
A. 
Group child-care homes shall meet the staff-child ratios in accordance with the following:
(1) 
Maximum number of children. No more than 12 children unrelated to the operator may simultaneously receive care except in a facility serving older school-age children. In a facility serving only older school-age children, a certificate of compliance may be issued for up to 15 children.
(2) 
Ratio requirements.
(a) 
The minimum number of facility persons is as follows:
[1] 
A primary staff person shall be present in a facility when six or fewer children are in care, unless the staff-child ratio specified in Subsection A(2)(b) or (c) requires a second or third staff person.
[2] 
At least two facility persons shall accompany any number of children on an excursion away from a facility.
(b) 
When children are grouped in similar age levels, the following child group sizes and ratios of staff persons apply:
[Amended 2-16-2022 by Ord. No. 15791]
Similar Age Group
Staff
Children
Maximum Group Size
Total Number of Staff Required For the Maximum Group Size
Infant
1
4
12
3
Young toddler
1
5
12
3
Older toddler
1
6
12
2
Preschool
1
10
12
2
Young school age
1
12
12
1
Older school age
1
15
15
1
(c) 
When children are grouped in mixed age levels, the age of the youngest child in the group determines the staff/child ratio and maximum group size in accordance with the requirements in Subsection A(2)(b) above.
(3) 
Children of an operator or a staff person.
(a) 
The related or foster children of an operator and the related or foster children of a staff person shall be counted for the purpose of satisfying the staff/child ratio requirements (relating to similar age level; and mixed age level).
(b) 
The related or foster children of an operator and the related or foster children of a staff person shall be counted for the purpose of satisfying the allocated space capacity requirements (relating to measurement and use of indoor child-care space; and measurement and use of play space).
(4) 
Minimum number of facility persons in the child-care facility.
(a) 
At least two facility persons shall be present in the facility when two or more children are in care. At a minimum, one of the facility persons shall be a staff person.
(b) 
At least two facility persons shall be present when children are on an excursion away from the facility. At a minimum, one of the facility persons shall be a staff person.
(c) 
If the staff-child ratio warrants only one staff person, the second person may be another facility person.
B. 
Family child-care homes shall meet the staff-child ratios in accordance with the following:
(1) 
Maximum number of children. The number of children in care may not exceed six children at any one time.
(2) 
Ratio requirements. The operator may provide care to no more than five related and unrelated infants and toddlers at any one time. No more than two related and unrelated infants may receive care at any one time. The following number of infants and toddlers are permitted in a family day-care home:
(a) 
If no infants are in care, five toddlers are permitted.
(b) 
If one infant is in care, four toddlers are permitted.
(c) 
If two infants are in care, three toddlers are permitted.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595]
A. 
Use of indoor child-care space.
[Amended 10-16-2008 by Ord. No. 14637]
(1) 
A facility shall provide indoor child-care space for individual and group small muscle activity.
(2) 
Indoor child-care space may not be used simultaneously as play space.
(3) 
Indoor space in which children are receiving care may not be used simultaneously for other business, commercial, social or another purpose unrelated to the child care being offered.
(4) 
Preschool and school-age children may not be involved in small or large muscle activity in the same group space in which children are sleeping or resting.
(5) 
The capacity established for an indoor space may not be exceeded except in the following situations:
(a) 
At naptime, when toddler or preschool children are resting on rest equipment described in § 213-7F (relating to rest equipment) if the following conditions are met:
[1] 
The capacity is determined by the requirement for placement of rest equipment described in § 213-7F(6).
[2] 
The capacity may be exceeded for no longer than 2 1/2 consecutive hours and no more than twice in a program day.
(b) 
When older toddler, preschool or school-age children are participating in a program activity if the following conditions are met:
[1] 
The capacity of the indoor child-care space may be exceeded for no more than two separate one-half-hour time periods daily;
[2] 
Each time period shall be designated on the facility's schedule of daily activities;
[3] 
The space may not be occupied by children of the infant or young toddler age levels during a time period when the capacity is exceeded;
[4] 
The number of children present in the space may not be more than twice measured capacity of the space.
(c) 
When a meal is served in a space designated and measured as indoor child-care space if the following conditions are met:
[1] 
The capacity of a space may be exceeded when children are eating for no more than one hour daily;
[2] 
The meal time shall be designated on the facility's schedule of daily activities;
[3] 
The number of children present in the space may not be more than twice the measured capacity of the space.
B. 
Use of play space in group child-care homes.
[Amended 10-16-2008 by Ord. No. 14637]
(1) 
A facility shall provide outdoor or indoor play space to be used for large muscle activity which includes running, jumping, climbing and riding.
(2) 
Outdoor or indoor play space shall be safe for large muscle activity.
(3) 
Outdoor or indoor play space in which children are receiving care may not be used simultaneously for other business, commercial, social or another purpose unrelated to the child care being offered.
C. 
The following sections of § 213-5, Facilities, building and physical sites, are applicable to group and family child-care homes:
(1) 
Relating to physical site: § 213-5G through V, inclusive, and § 213-5CC through JJ, inclusive.
(2) 
Relating to fire safety: § 213-6A through C, inclusive, and § 213-6E through H, inclusive.
(3) 
Relating to equipment: § 213-7A through C inclusive, and § 213-7D through H, inclusive.
D. 
Toilet area.
(1) 
A facility shall have at least one indoor flushing toilet and one sink. Running water shall be available at the sink.
(2) 
A training chair is not a flushing toilet. Training chairs may be used, if emptied and sanitized after each use. A sanitizing solution of one cup bleach to one gallon of water may be used. A sanitizing solution shall be treated as a toxic.
(3) 
Toilets and training chairs shall be located in rooms separate from rooms used for cooking or eating.
E. 
Toilet room fixture condition. Toilet rooms and fixtures shall be kept clean and in good repair. Toilet rooms shall have easily cleanable waste receptacles.
F. 
Fire drills.
(1) 
Fire evacuation plans shall be developed and posted.
(2) 
Evacuation plans shall provide for removal of persons from the facility in a single trip.
(3) 
Fire evacuation drills shall be conducted in a manner and frequency which is in accordance with the City Fire Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 285, Fire Prevention and Protection.
G. 
Firearms.
(1) 
If the facility is located in a building or a space which is not a residence, weapons, firearms and ammunition are prohibited.
(2) 
If the facility is located in a residence, weapons and firearms shall be contained in a locked cabinet.
(3) 
If the facility is located in a residence, ammunition shall be contained in a locked area separate from weapons and firearms.
(4) 
If the facility is located in a residence, the operator shall notify the parent when weapons, firearms or ammunition are present at the facility.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595; 10-16-2008 by Ord. No. 14637]
A. 
The following sections of § 213-8, Program, are applicable to group and family child-care homes:
(1) 
Relating to supervision of children: § 213-8A.
(2) 
Relating to outdoor activity: § 213-8B.
(3) 
Relating to release of children: § 213-8D.
(4) 
Relating to pets: § 213-8E.
(5) 
Relating to emergencies: § 213-8F through H, inclusive.
(6) 
Relating to infant sleep position: § 213-8I.
B. 
Water activity.
(1) 
For group child-care homes, the applicable water activity regulation is § 213-8C. For family child-care homes the applicable regulation is § 213-18B(2) below.
(2) 
Swimming or wading.
(a) 
An in-ground swimming pool accessible to children shall be fenced with a locked gate.
(b) 
An aboveground swimming pool which is not in use shall be made inaccessible to children.
(c) 
An indoor swimming pool which is not in use shall be made inaccessible to children.
(d) 
Swimming and wading ratios shall be maintained as follows:
Staff
Children
Infant
1
1
Young or older toddler
1
2
Preschool
1
5
Young school age
1
6
Older school age
1
6
(e) 
When children are swimming, supervision shall include at least one person who has completed lifeguard training.
(f) 
The person certified in lifeguard training may not be included in the staff-child ratio.
(g) 
A facility person who is counted in the staff/child ratio shall annually complete water safety instruction.
(h) 
All swimming pools must be provided with a recirculation and filtration system capable of providing a uniform circulation and uniform disinfectant residual throughout the entire pool.
(i) 
The pH value of the water shall be not less than 7.2 and not more than 8.2.
(j) 
All water in the pool shall be sufficiently clear to permit a clear view of the entire pool bottom.
(k) 
Every pool shall be equipped with an approved device to provide continuous disinfection to the pool. Disinfectant levels must be provided at all times that are equivalent to the effectiveness of a chlorine or hypochlorite compound with free chlorine residual parameters as recommended by the PA Department of Health's Pool Operation and Maintenance Manual.
[Amended 2-16-2022 by Ord. No. 15791]
(3) 
Wading pools.
(a) 
Facility persons shall supervise children using wading pools. The staff-child ratios in § 213-18B(2)(d) above applies when children are wading.
(b) 
A wading pool shall be emptied, cleaned and sanitized daily. Pools shall be filled with fresh water from an approved source and a sanitizing solution shall be added. An acceptable sanitizing solution is 3/4 teaspoon of bleach added to each 50 gallons of water. A sanitizing solution shall be handled as a toxic.
(4) 
Water play table. A water play table or a container used for water play that contains unfiltered water shall be emptied daily and sanitized before its next use.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595]
Section 213-9, Child health, is applicable in its entirety to group and family child-care homes.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595; 10-16-2008 by Ord. No. 14637]
Section 213-10, Staff health, is applicable in its entirety to group and family child-care homes.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595]
Section 213-11, CPR and first aid certification, is applicable in its entirety to group and family child-care homes.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595]
Section 213-12, Food service, is applicable in its entirety to group and family child-care homes.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595]
A. 
The following sections of § 213-13, Food and nutrition, are applicable to group and family child-care homes:
(1) 
§ 213-13A through D, inclusive, and Subsection F.
B. 
Menus. The operator shall discuss the general menu plan with the parent so that the daily nutritional needs of the child can be met.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595]
Section 213-14, Transportation, is applicable in its entirety to group and family child-care homes.
[Amended 8-8-1997 by Ord. No. 13595]
Section 213-15, Records, is applicable in its entirety to group and family child-care homes.
A. 
An operator of a group or family child-care home shall maintain a current criminal history record and child abuse record for every individual 18 years of age or older who resides in the home for at least 30 days in a calendar year.
[Added 2-16-2022 by Ord. No. 15791]