Daycare & Childcare Permit Design
Permit-design support for child care and daycare spaces, coordinated with zoning, Building Code, Fire Code and the operator’s Ministry of Education licensing-plan requirements.
What child-care permit drawings can include
Depending on the proposed centre and agreed scope:
- existing and proposed floor plans with program-room uses and dimensions
- entrance, exit and circulation information
- barrier-free/accessibility layouts
- washroom and plumbing coordination within applicable registered scope
- building-permit life-safety and construction information
- coordination of the physical plan with operator-supplied child care licensing requirements
What should be confirmed before a child-care layout is finalized
The licensing and building processes need to be coordinated early.
- zoning permission for child care at the proposed location
- age groups/program type and operator-supplied space requirements
- floor/site-plan requirements for the Ministry licensing process
- exits, fire/life-safety and building classification issues
- washrooms, accessibility and required support spaces
- outdoor play/site requirements where applicable to the proposed program
Child care licensing is a separate approval stream
Ontario’s child care licensing guidance requires applicants to demonstrate compliance with local zoning, Building Code, Fire Code and public-health requirements. It also requires Ministry approval of floor/site plans for new centres and planned renovations in the situations covered by the licensing regulation. 828 Design can prepare/coordinate permit drawings, but the licence application and program requirements remain with the operator.
Common daycare and child-care permit questions
Can I open a daycare in any commercial unit?
No. The use must be permitted and the space must satisfy the building, fire, health and licensing requirements applicable to the proposed centre.
Does a building permit mean the daycare is licensed?
No. Building approval and Ministry of Education child care licensing are separate processes.
Should the Ministry see the plans before construction?
Ontario’s licensing rules require plan approval for applicable new or renovated child care centres before the erection/use/alteration or renovation proceeds, subject to the regulatory exceptions.
Do age groups affect the physical layout?
They can. The operator must provide the applicable child care program and licensing requirements so the permit layout can be coordinated with them.
Will outdoor play space affect the design?
It can for applicable centres and programs. Site/outdoor requirements are part of the separate licensing and property feasibility review.
Can 828 Design obtain the child care licence for me?
No. We can prepare and coordinate the building-design/permit documentation within our scope, but the operator remains responsible for the Ministry licensing application and the responsible authorities make the licensing decisions.
Building completion is not the final licensing step
The operator remains responsible for completing Ministry licensing, local fire/public-health and other approvals. Permit drawings should be kept coordinated with the licensing-plan set if the approved layout changes.
What to send for a quote
- property address and unit number
- proposed licensed child care program and age groups
- existing floor/site plans if available
- operator’s preliminary Ministry space/program requirements
- photos of entrances, exits, washrooms and outdoor/site areas
- any zoning, fire, health or Ministry comments already received
Related commercial / industrial permit services
Change of Use Permit & Occupancy Review · Commercial Renovation & Tenant Improvement · Barrier-Free Upgrades · Zoning Review
828 Design Inc. — BCIN building design & permit services. Content reviewed for current Ontario permit context: August 2026. Zoning, licensing, occupancy and permit requirements are confirmed for the actual property, municipality and written project scope. Qualifications & responsibility →
Planning a licensed child care or daycare space?
Send the address, program type, age groups and any licensing/zoning information already available. We can coordinate the building-permit design around the actual centre requirements.